http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4808/greeceisraelflags.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/greeceisraelflags.jpg/)

Hi there all. Over recent times Greece and Israel have fostered closer relations. It is said, both countries, although obviously different, share many parallels, and as many analysists have pointed out, they make for natural allies. There are of course those who question the alliance, especially leftiists, wherever they may be. What do you guys think?


Here are a few reports in relation to the topic.

UHZM2pRWb9g


Our Greek friends

The tragedy of the Carmel fire allowed Athens to prove that friendship is tested most in times of need.

Early Friday morning, fire-fighting planes and firefighters began pouring in from countries around the world, answering Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s call for help in fighting the largest forest fire it had ever known. Only hours before, the blaze claimed the lives of more than 40 people, most of them Prisons Service employees in a bus that got trapped in the flames.

The first arrivals were toy-like yellow planes, sent from Greece. They flew low over the Mediterranean, scooping up seawater. Then they moved inland, pouring the water over the flames.


Impressed by the speed of Athens’s response Netanyahu told reporters he “knew that the Greeks were our friends, but I didn’t realize what good friends they were.”

He then phoned Prime Minister George Papandreou to thank him personally. These planes – later dwarfed by the Russian Ilyushin and the American Boeing Supertanker – were immensely useful because in the time it takes to fill up the belly of one of the massive ones, they can make several sorties.

The tragedy allowed the Greeks to prove that friendship is tested most in times of need. And prove it they did...

...continued http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=198323



Netanyahu to Greek PM: I'm not skeptical about peace

...Athens and Jerusalem are the basis of the world's civilization, Netanyahu said, speaking of relations between the countries.

"The relationship between us continues in the modern age when Jews lived in Greece," he said, adding that today Greece and Israel are the cornerstones of stability in the Middle East and partners in the cause of peace.

The prime minister called for the link between the two states to be strengthened and promised to aid Greece in the fields of technology and finance...

...continued http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3923805,00.html



Greek FM : Region only gains from blooming bilateral ties

Dimitris Droutsas to 'Post' "We are writing new pages in the history of Greek-Israeli relations;" arrives for one-day visit.

Israeli-Greek ties have improved over the past few months at about the same pace Israeli- Turkish ties have deteriorated, but Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas believes the two sets of relationships are unrelated.

Droutsas told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive e-mail interview just before his arrival on Sunday night that the recent bloom in Jerusalem’s relations with Athens “categorically” has no connection to the Israeli-Turkish crisis...

...continued http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=191753



Israel's new Mediterranean best friend

...However, the Greeks have several advantages. Their country is a longtime member of the European Union, a multi-national body in which Israel is vitally interested and which it would be happy to join if given the opportunity. They also serve as discreet intermediaries for Israel’s unpublicized exports to the Arab states.

There also is a profound Greek religious interest and involvement in the Holy Land.

The Greek Orthodox church is one of Israel’s major landowners. Its possessions include churches and monasteries throughout the country (especially in Jerusalem, where its prelates granted the prestate Zionists permission to build the attractive Rehavia neighborhood on land adjacent to the Monastery of the Cross). And thousands of Greek Orthodox pilgrims flock to Israel annually, especially for Christmas and Easter on the dates designated by the Greek religious calendar...

...continued http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=185222



Greek-Israeli Relations and the New Assertive Geostrategic Rapprochement

Greece and Israel are very old nations with extremely rich and complicated history. Specifically, since the Ulysses and Moses periods these two Mediterranean nations have been associated with all the crucial historical developments and ethnic and biblical struggles in the eastern Mediterranean region and the wider Balkan and the Middle East regions. Thus, both Greek and Israelis feel very proud for their respective historical and cultural achievements throughout the centuries.

The Jewish Zionist movement that was created and established in the late 19th century by Theodore Herzl had very similar characteristics with the Greek irredentist movement of “Great Idea.” Also, both nations have triumphed as Diaspora in various countries across the globe. Moreover, both ethnic groups have been occupied by the Ottomans. Furthermore, Greeks and Jews controlled and influenced the economic life of the Ottoman Empire. Currently, both countries are Western style representative democracies. In addition, both countries are allies with the U.S.A. and are located in very crucial geostrategic position...

...continued http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-chicago/greek-israeli-relations-and-the-new-assertive-geostrategic-rapprochement

I support cooperation with as many countries as possible. Greece is one of the countries most statistically similar to Israel, so it has a special meaning.

On the other hand, we need to ask Greece to take steps to curb antisemitism and help advance our positions in the EU. This is very important as the EU is becoming more and more anti-Israel all the time, and until recently Greece has been contributing to this momentum. I believe that most Israelis are supportive of Greece, even more so because of our current problems ties with Turkey. We hope that the people of Greece will feel the same about us.

On the other hand, we need to ask Greece to take steps to curb antisemitism and help advance our positions in the EU. This is very important as the EU is becoming more and more anti-Israel all the time, and until recently Greece has been contributing to this momentum. I believe that most Israelis are supportive of Greece, even more so because of our current problems ties with Turkey. We hope that the people of Greece will feel the same about us.

The Greek-Israeli relations are not meant to be antagonistic towards any country. AFAIK, Greece is one of the few EU or EU candidate countries that have not seen any anti-semitic rise during the last years. Greek antisemitism is neither traditional, nor religious but it is mostly superficial and based on leftist grounds of solidarity towards the Palestinian people. Most of the people have no idea how badly was Greece hitten by WWII, and regardless of this, it was probably the only occupied country with institutionalized reactions towards the upcoming Holocaust.

The miraculous story of the Jews of Zakynthos
By LEORA GOLDBERG, SPECIAL TO THE JERUSALEM POST

http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260447422761&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull



The Archbishop of Athens was the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox people of Athens and All Greece, and Damaskinos worked very hard to live up to his position during those hard times. In 1943, the Germans began the persecution of the Jews of Greece, and their deportations to Nazi concentration camps. Damaskinos formally protested the actions of the occupational authorities.

According to The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation the appeal of Damaskinos and his fellow Greeks is unique as no document similar to the protest against the Nazis during World War II has come to light in any other European country.

The letter in part reads:
“ The Greek Orthodox Church and the Academic World of Greek People Protest against the Persecution... The Greek people were... deeply grieved to learn that the German Occupation Authorities have already started to put into effect a program of gradual deportation of the Greek Jewish community... and that the first groups of deportees are already on their way to Poland...
According to the terms of the armistice, all Greek citizens, without distinction of race or religion, were to be treated equally by the Occupation Authorities. The Greek Jews have proven themselves... valuable contributors to the economic growth of the country [and] law-abiding citizens who fully understand their duties as Greeks. They have made sacrifices for the Greek country, and were always on the front lines of the struggle of the Greek nation to defend its inalienable historical rights...
In our national consciousness, all the children of Mother Greece are an inseparable unity: they are equal members of the national body irrespective of religion... Our holy religion does not recognize superior or inferior qualities based on race or religion, as it is stated: 'There is neither Jew nor Greek' and thus condemns any attempt to discriminate or create racial or religious differences. Our common fate both in days of glory and in periods of national misfortune forged inseparable bonds between all Greek citizens, without exemption, irrespective of race...

Today we are... deeply concerned with the fate of 60,000 of our fellow citizens who are Jews... we have lived together in both slavery and freedom, and we have come to appreciate their feelings, their brotherly attitude, their economic activity, and most important, their indefectible patriotism...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Damaskinos_of_Athens

So, it's just unfair to portrait Greece as any other country with historical anti-semitic roots, because there are-as they ought to be in any democratic society, people who disagree with aspects of the current Israeli stance towards their neighbors.

That being said and based on my personal experience from visits down there, I find Israel to be probably the most similar country to Greece. Laid-back people, religious nuts (interestingly called ultra-orthodoxs in both countries, but at least their average age in Greece is around 60 y.o.), sea, cosmopolitan and insular mentality in the same time, huge diaspora and a looooooong history that streches back thousands of years.
:)
6JLH3IbEvNQ&feature=related

..

:)

Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture

Did You Know That….

1. Jewish presence in Greece spans more than 2,400 years?

2. In the 2nd century BCE, the Athenians had erected a statue of the Jewish leader Hyrcanus on the Agora, honoring him for his expressed feelings towards the Athenian Republic?

3. Until the arrival of the Sepharadim from Spain, in 1492, the Jewish communities of Greece used the Greek language, and assumed Greek names?

4. Around 50 CE, Paul preached in Thessaloniki’s synagogue on three consecutive Saturdays?

5. The 20,000 Sepharadim who came to Thessaloniki in 1492 gave new life to the city that was almost deserted after the Turkish conquest of 1430? The historian Apostolos Vacalopoulos writes “…The commercial activity of those Jews was a special incentive for the economic growth of the Gteek inhabitants of the city, which, combined with other factors, led to their national awakening in the 19th century…”.

6. During the Greek national uprising of 1821: A. Reporter Lafitte, a French Jew, with his moving articles in “France Libre”, roused French public opinion in support of struggling Greece? B. The Chief Rabbi of Westphalia in Germany collected donations in the Synagogues for the Greek liberation fighters? C. Moses Gaster, a Jew, diplomatic agent of Holland in Bucharest, helped Alexandros Ypsylantis escape from the Turks after the lost battle of Dragatsani?

7. Jews of international renown, such as Max Nordau and Salomon Reinach, supported in every possible way Greek national aspirations in Crete and Macedonia?

8. David Sciacky, a Jewish physician, took an active part in the fighting during the Macedonian struggle, helping sick and wounded Greek fighters around the Yannitsa Lake area?

9. Greece with Eleftherios Venizelos as Prime Minister and Nicolaos Politis as Foreign Minister, was one of the first countries that accepted the Balfour Declaration on the creation of a jewish National Home in the Palestine?

10. Henry Morgenthau, and American Jew, led an international movement of solidarity to Greece, during the suffering that followed the Asia Minor defeat, and settled in Thessaloniki as President of the International Committee for the Rehabilitation of Refugees?

11. 12,898 Jews served during World War II in the Greek Army, defending their country? That 343 were officers? That 513 died and 3,743 were wounded? That among the first casualties was Colonel Mordechai Frezi from Chalkis?

12. In 1943, the leaders of the Jewish Communities of Serres, Drama, and Cavala, refused to denounce their Greek nationality, although pressured to do so by the Bulgarian authorities? That a few months later all the Jews of those cities were turned over to the Germans who killed them?

13. That Christian Greeks sheltered to the persecuted Greeks, risking their own lives? That the Church and Clergy, the National Resistance Movement, the Gendarmerle, and the Metropolital Police were the first to help? That the Chief of Metropolitan Police, Angelos Evert, issued thousands of false identity cards to Jews, helping them to evade the Nazis?

14. The Archbishop of Athens, Damaskinos, sent a letter of protest to the German occupation authorities, demanding that they cease persecuting the Jews? That this letter, unique in the whole of occupied Europe, was co-signed by 27 Presidents of various Organizations and institutions, such as the Athens’ academy, the Chamber of Commerce etc.?

15. Jews were assisted by the Bishops of Thessaloniki, Gennadios, of Dimitrias, Christodoulos, of Chalkis, Gregorios, and of Zante, Chrysostomos? That the Bishop of Zante helped by the Mayor of the city Loukas Carrer, prevented the arrest and deportation of the local Jews? That the same was done in Katerini by Mayor Athanasios Vassilladis and Chief of Police Papagergiou?

16. That the Greek State, having by law inheritance rights on the property of Greeks who die leaving no inheritors, refused to benefit from the plight of the Greek Jews, and waived its rights by law?

http://www.sephardicstudies.org/thes3.html

Greek - Jewish event :)

AJC Boston Launches Greek-Jewish Community Exchange Initiative

March 3, 2011 - Over 150 people gathered at the Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College in Brookline, MA for the launch of the AJC Boston and Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston Greek-Jewish Community Exchange Initiative yesterday evening. The event, entitled "Passover & Pascha: How Greeks and Jews Shaped Each Other’s History, Culture, & Faith," is intended as the first in a series of programs dedicated to enhancing understanding and friendship between Greek and Jewish Americans.

Greek and Jewish Americans share a long and highly consequential history. According to His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, “For thousands of years, the Greek and Jewish worlds have made an indelible impact on each other's histories, cultures, and faiths. The upcoming holidays of Jewish Passover and Greek Orthodox Pascha present the opportunity to explore this historic encounter in a welcoming community setting.”

Robert Leikind, AJC’s Boston Director noted that, "Our hope is to enhance understanding of our shared history, traditions and interests. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn and appreciate how what we do locally is part of a global tapestry of relations."

The evening featured remarks by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and Rabbi Dan Liben, President of Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, as well as performances by the Metropolis of Boston Greek Dancers, Israeli dancing, a panel presentation by leading scholars about the ties between Passover and Pascha, and Mediterranean foods.

http://www.ajcboston.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=mwL7KmNZLtH&b=6367989&ct=9149305&notoc=1

Hey Skymantle,

Thanks for starting this thread! I really hope that there will be a serious and significant improvement in Greek-Israeli relations. I think this would be great for both countries.

:cheers2:

personally speaking i know of no greeks within greece or abraod who has negative views towards jewish people in general.yes we have a lot in common.
but of course if our relations will prosper and grow ,both peoples and nations have to respect each other .
this is not about antisemetism or antihellenism it is about having common goals,interests, and aspirations for the betterment of our relations.
both greeks and jews has been attacked and are continusouly bombarded in many ways historically and presently ,therefore i do not think we should focus on who has suffered through more in this link.
learning from the past is what we all should do and try to make our beautiful eastern med region more peaceful and prosperous.
my feeling is both jews and greeks can make this occur if we both want it enough. :)

Hey Skymantle,

Thanks for starting this thread! I really hope that there will be a serious and significant improvement in Greek-Israeli relations. I think this would be great for both countries.

:cheers2: You're welcome חבר1.0 I think there's already been a serious and significant improvement in Greek - Israeli relations, as many of the reports I linked indicate. They can of course improve even further, which should occur, even lf like most relationships, bumps appear along the way that may need to be overcome, because as you said, it would be great for both countries. Here's to the ancient cultures and nations of the Greek and Israeli people. Shalom friends. :cheers:

I want to share a story with you about a little Greek island. an island not too far from the mainland of Greece, steeped in maritime heritage and covered in a verdant carpet of forest. An island which the discerning traveller would find and where those with a bit of spare change in their pockets choose to visit and even reside. It's the beautiful island of Spetses in the Saronic islands group. another jewel in the long chain of inviting Greek islands.

Spetses always had the distinction of being a resourceful maritime island, but it was a local that came back to his island after travelling the world looking for his fortune, and it is he who endowed it with much of its most vital infrastructure and attractions, including constructing the island's first water supply system, a luxury hotel that has just recently been restored to its former glory, he replanted over half the island's forest and built a renowned educational institution that saw some of Greece's brightest and most famous graduate from. He was Sotirios Anargyros and he remains the island's most formiddable patron and son.

Well you may ask, what has this got to do with Greek and Jewish friendship, and I will simply answer quite a bit, albeit in a not so obvious way. Anargyros eventually made his way to America for a better life, like so many in his day. He worked for the Thompson Tobacco House and ended up owning one of the biggest tobacco factories in the world after the Jewish owner adopted him and gave him the company. Anargyros used the money he had gained wisely, for philanthropic and community needs, including being an environmentalist well before the term was ever coined. He was instilled with a sense of civic duty and responsibility and with the fortune he received from his Jewish employer, provider and friend, he was able to make his altruistic dreams come true.

...As an employee at the Thompson Tobacco House, he was soon given the responsibility of buying tobacco from Ottoman Greece and Turkey. A few years before dying, the company's Jewish owner adopted the Spetsiot. Anargyros became the owner of one of the largest tobacco factories in America. Catering to a wealthy metropolitan clientele, captivated by Eastern civilizations, Anargyros introduced Turkish and Egyptian cigarette brands featuring images of the exotic Orient. Murad, Aegyptian Deities, Helmar, Mogul and Ramses were some of the popular cigarettes introduced by the S. Anargyros Company in the US.

In 1899 he sold the company for a fortune and returned to his birthplace. A hostile reception from his envious relatives and the breakdown of his childless marriage helped him quickly make up his mind. He would devote his fortune to Spetses...

http://www.odyssey.gr/default.asp?entryid=4196&pageid=4&tablepageid=50&langid=2



Statue of Anargyros in Spetses town.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8936/zz5cb.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/zz5cb.jpg/)

The lovely fin de siecile Poseidonion hotel on Spetses built by Anargyros. The (ex) Greek royalty recently held a wedding on the sland, with a reception at the hotel. http://www.poseidoniongrace.com/
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/4826/zz8x.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/zz8x.jpg/)

The Anargyros School http://www.akss.gr/site/index.php/en/anargyreios-korialeneios-sxoli-istoria.html?date=2010-04-01
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2637/zz9c.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/zz9c.jpg/)

Images of the island
http://img858.imageshack.us/img858/7425/zz7.jpg (http://img858.imageshack.us/i/zz7.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8886/zz3q.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/zz3q.jpg/)

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7762/zz4d.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/zz4d.jpg/)

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/2681/zz6y.jpg (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/zz6y.jpg/)

I hope you all come visit, bearing in mind that a well-to-do, humane Jewish person had something to do with the way this beautiful island is today.
:cheers:

I cant believe I missed this thread!!!!! :)


Well in a few words what can I say...
I definately would support trade with Greece. I see no problem in it...other have mentioned some challenges and obstacles...

Turkey is slowly moving away from Western nations and trying to become their own superstar in the stans. Half of the country is for moving towards the east, half of the country is nationalistic and no one can make up their minds.

For Israelis, anyone who opens their hands and wants diplomacy is an automatic friend of Israel and Greece should never be excluded. I see Greece and Israel have a lot of things in common and can work together for better trade and development.

^^Hey Kappa, I like your 'Greek' username. :colgate:

Greece and Israel indeed have a lot in common and can work together for mutual benefit. Greece is going through some very diffiicult times at the moment, and I fear it's going to get worse before it gets better, in fact I'm sure it is, so forging relations with Israel and other countries in trade, development etc is a very constructive move.

As for the Turkish - Israeli situation, I'm not an expert, but I sincerely hope things improve between both nations for the benefit of the region. Let's hope you can solve your differences and all three nations can have better, closer relations. Imagine that, Greece, Turkey and israel as allies working closely together for the betterment of the entire region? It can happen. Personally, my dealings with Turkish people have been for the most part positive and I like the country and its hospitable people very much. Greeks and Turks have gone a long way in improving relations, and i'm sure you guys can too. Inshallah, as the Turks would say.

Perhaps Greece could help in this endeavour as well?

Greece should mediate between Turkey and Israel

Sadly, years-long Turkish efforts to mediate for a happy ending in the Arab-Israeli conflict have ended up with Turkey and Israel in a 21st-century cold war that is colder than its 20th-century version. This has left Ankara (along with Hamas) uninvited to direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine – with Egypt and Jordan readying to be present at the dinner table. But we should not give up hopes for successful mediating efforts in our region.

Fixing this though would be the most exemplary single piece of almost-Nobel Peace Prize-winning initiative and a spectacularly illustrative showdown supporting interfaith dialogue both wrapped in one nice gift box: Greece mediating between Turkey and Israel.

Put it in the language that might appeal better to the fans of the Alliance of Civilizations fairy tale: A Christian nation acting as an honest broker between a Muslim and a Jewish nation. Fabulous! In the unwanted event that all three are bogged down in bigger disputes we can always think of a Hindu or a Shinto nation to mediate between the three. And if all four got into trouble we will have to think about an atheist nation to mediate.

But there is a mathematical logic for optimism: 1- Turkey’s foreign policy centers on the idea of having zero problems with neighbors, 2- Greece is a neighbor, 3- Turkey will therefore have zero problems with Greece, 4- (meanwhile) Greece is excelling in improving its relations with Israel, 5- In this part of the world, the enemy of your enemy is your friend, 6- Hence the opposite is also true: the friend of your friend is your friend, and 7- Turkey and Israel can rediscover the virtues of peace and friendship thanks to a common friend...


...continued
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=greece-should-mediate-between-turkey-and-israel-2010-08-24

;) ^^ Like they say...once you go greek, you never wanna sit down for a week :doh:

Statue of Anargyros in Spetses town.
[IMG]http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8936/zz5cb.jpg[/IM

The lovely fin de siecile Poseidonion hotel on Spetses built by Anargyros. The (ex) Greek royalty recently held a wedding on the sland, with a reception at the hotel. [url]http://www.poseidoniongrace.com/ (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/zz5cb.jpg/)
[IM]http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/4826/zz8x.jpg[/I

The Anargyros School [url]http://www.akss.gr/site/index.php/en/anargyreios-korialeneios-sxoli-istoria.html?date=2010-04-01 (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/zz8x.jpg/)
[URL=http://img708.imageshack.us/i/zz9c.jpg/][IMG]http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2637/zz9c.jpg[/I

Images of the island
[URL=http://img858.imageshack.us/i/zz7.jpg/][IMG]http://img858.imageshack.us/img858/7425/zz7.jpg[/IM

[URL=http://img200.imageshack.us/i/zz3q.jpg/][IMG]http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8886/zz3q.jpg[/I

[URL=http://img22.imageshack.us/i/zz4d.jpg/][IMG]http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7762/zz4d.jpg[/IMG

[URL=http://img823.imageshack.us/i/zz6y.jpg/][IMG]http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/2681/zz6y.jpg[/IMG

I hope you all come visit, bearing in mind that a well-to-do, humane Jewish person had something to do with the way this beautiful island is today.
:cheers:

What a beautiful country! Every time I fly over the Greek Islands, I always wonder how beautiful they must be. Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to visit Greece, but I hope this definitely changes soon!

:cheers2:

;) ^^ Like they say...once you go greek, you never wanna sit down for a week :doh:
:rofl:

Speaking from experience?? :lol:

:rofl:

Speaking from experience?? :lol:

Greek superstition!!!!! :bash:

@ Kappa, I know you're just kidding. :)

What a beautiful country! Every time I fly over the Greek Islands, I always wonder how beautiful they must be. Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to visit Greece, but I hope this definitely changes soon!

:cheers2: Hey חבר1.0 thanks for your comment. Greece has some lovely spots, but can definitely be better cared for and much improved, especially the urban areas. You must come visit soon.

Here's a website that may be of interest and use for all Jewish people, and non-Jewish as well, in fact.
Welcome to Yvelia, the website of Yvette and Elias (Yvelia),
the online community where Greek culture, Jewish culture, Architecture, Healing, Environment and Community activity meet.
http://www.yvelia.com/


And now more in relation to this architecture forum and the above website by renowned architect Elias Messinas, the Green Prophet
Elias Messinas Builds On Green Education From Israel and Practice in Greece

There’s a phenomenon that’s hit the world, and Israel is no exception: designers, restaurants, grocery stores, companies and architects “in the green know” are talking about sustainability.

Gone are the days when a soup company can paint a “recyclable” logo on a tin can and call itself environmentally friendly.

Like in America, Israelis too have evolved the important concept of sustainability, where green practices are woven through the entire fabric of a product, building or community.

Sustainability has no hard and fast rules, but works on logic, and aims to create a balance and harmony between what us humans create, and the environment we live in.

In the area of green architecture, there are about 20 architects scattered throughout Israel who envision sustainable building, where for example, buildings could create more energy than they consume. Some architects like Joseph Cory of Geotectura in Haifa develop futuristic and conceptual projects, and others like Gil Peled in Jerusalem, work to “green” old buildings from the inside out.

One of the most experienced in the green architecture field in Israel is the 44-year-old Greek-Israeli architect and consultant Elias Messinas, a veteran to the field who divides his time between Israel and Greece. His philosophies and practices are impacting green construction everywhere. He believes that educating a community about eco-issues is just as important as creating a green habitat to live inside.

Specialized in ecological building and passive solar architecture, Messinas works in Greece, Israel and Cyprus. In Greece he is working on a 2,500-unit neighborhood that could become Europe’s greenest community.

His work is published widely, including radio and TV appearances on the BBC...
...continued http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/04/elias-messinas/

Elias Messinas is behind the Athens 2004 Park at Zur Moshe in Israel. :)

PARK ATHENS 2004
In 2004 Elias with his wife Yvette, the late David Fais of Zur Moshe (Israel), and a small group of dedicated people created park Athens 2004, as a symbolic gift to celebrate Athens hosting the Olympic Games 108 years after they were revived in modern Greece. The park was created thanks to the generous donations of private individuals in Greece, Israel and the US, the Greek State, and the Jewish Communities of Greece.

The park is located at Moshav Zur Moshe, a moshav established by Greek immigrants from Thessaloniki in the 1930s. The park covers an area of approx. 40,000 square meters, planted with over 200 trees. The park includes the donors' pillars and flag posts in the entry, the children playground donated by the Fais family, the promenade donated by Sabby Mionis, and the 'Righteous of Athens' park, where Greek officials are honored for their contribution in establishing bridges of peace, understanding, co-existence and tollerance in Greek society.

The park Athens 2004 was dedicated in July 2004 by the Ambassador of Greece Panagiotis Zografos, in a ceremony attended by Greek Consule in Haifa Kostas Zinovios and Greek Embassy officials.
http://www.yvelia.com/amarchitects/park_athens_2004.htm

The entry to the park Athens 2004 (named "Piazza of Greece")
http://www.yvelia.com/amarchitects/pics/park_athens2004/park_1.JPG

How about a love triangle? Greece Turkey Israel and add in Armenia for bonus points?

News from Canada :)

Greek, Jewish communities talk cooperation

By Joel Goldenberg

Diplomats, politicians and members of the Greek and Jewish communities gathered Monday for a conference on emerging Hellenic-Israeli relations, held at the Hellenic Community Centre in Côte des Neiges.

The conference was organized by the Canadian chapter of the American Hellenic Progressive Association (AHEPA), the Canada-Israel Committee, Canadian Hellenic Congress and Quebec Jewish Congress.

“The essence of this conference is, first, the governments of Greece and Israel have renewed their diplomatic relationship and so we’re very happy to give some profile in Montreal to that renewed relationship, of which we are enormously supportive,” said Sara Saber-Freedman, executive vice-president of the Canada-Israel Committee. “Then, related to that is the relationship between the Jewish community of Montreal and the Greek community of Montreal, which have a very large number of shared issues of concern — both communities date from about the same period. We’ve been here awhile, we’re not new arrivals. We have similar sets of concern around any number of issues — social policy, multiculturalism, support for schools. “We want to find the basis for further work between the two communities.”

During the day, panelists Ken Matziorinis and Harold Waller of McGill University, and Andre Gerolymatos of Simon Fraser University and Amikam Nachmani of Bar-Ilan University in Israel, spoke about the Jewish community of Greece, the Greek-Israeli relationship, and Greek and Israeli national issues.

Conservative Senator Leo Housakos said the conference was “a unique moment in the histories of the Greek and Jewish communities of Quebec,” and was happening at the same time as the renewed diplomacy.

“Both countries are located in a tough neighbourhood which, as we speak, is undergoing a transformation,” he pointed out. “The ongoing upheavals in the Middle East underscore the significance of the Greek-Israeli alliance [in terms of security and the economy]… but the Greek-Israeli relationship reaches back for many centuries.”

During the morning session, chaired by Jack Jedwab of the Association for Canadian Studies, numerous speakers extolled the goals of the conference and renewed Greek-Israeli relations.

Eleftherios Anghelopoulos, the Greek ambassador to Canada, said an Israel-Greek joint ministry of cooperation “will be the next important step of our cooperation.

“Indeed, the economic cooperation is growing and giving tangible results that benefit both countries,” the ambassador said. “Many other factors of cooperation — tourism, environment, investment in renewable energy, new technologies and defence relations — have about two decades of history. Several agreements have been signed in the defence and security fields, and they relate to technical cooperation and support.

“The intensification of cooperation between Greece and Israel is not coincidental and not directed against any other state or people of the region. Instead, it has added value to regional security because it is resolutely focused on the values of peace, development and cooperation.”

Miriam Ziv, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, said the conference was “a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the evolving and lasting relationship between Israel and Greece.”

Ziv added that the renewed diplomacy and cooperation involves many factors of mutual interest, such as culture, matters of business and trade, shared values, educational and international issues, including human rights and democracy.

Conservative Senator Judith Seidman said that Jews generally gather for conferences on sad or worrying topics, such as the international campaign to demonize Israel, threats by the terrorist group Hamas and others.

“Today, we gather not to talk about our problems and our enemies, but to celebrate our friends,” she added.

Mount Royal MP Irwin Cotler remarked that “we can continue to enhance the relationship between the Hellenic and Jewish communities, and between Greece and Israel by referring back to a Biblical prophecy, which was told to me by my wife, a student of Greek culture. There is a statement, ‘God will give beauty to Greece and they will dwell together in the tent of the Jewish people.’”

Liberal Senator Pana Merchant, the first Greek-born woman appointed to the upper house, wondered whether intervention from outside has led to negative results in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, citing the now partially withdrawn accusations against Israel in the UN Goldstone report on the 2009 Gaza operation.

The conference also heard from Nick Aroutzidis, president of the Canadian Order of AHEPA; George Manolikakis, president of the Canadian Hellenic Congress; Marc Gold, immediate past president of Federation CJA and Greek Consul General Thanos Kafopoulos. Israeli Consul General Yoram Elron was unwell and not able to attend.

http://www.cjc.ca/2011/04/06/greek-jewish-communities-talk-cooperation/

^^ I once crashed a University social get together that was hosted by the Greek Students Union because a Greek friend of mine didn't want to go alone :D

I was known in that event as Yannis Papadapoulous ;) Hellas! Hellas!

lol ^^ Papadopoulos is the sort of Smith or Jones of Greek-speakers. :)

'J'lem, Athens pursue a strong relationship in all aspects'

...Greek President Karolos Papoulias will arrive on Sunday night for a visit symbolizing the dramatic upgrade in Israeli-Greek ties that was evident last week when Athens refused to let Gaza-bound vessels set sail from its ports.

President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are expected to heap praise on Greece for its actions, which effectively put an end to the hopes of the flotilla’s organizers to sail for Gaza...


...Earlier this year, Greece hosted the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Why is it important for Greece to have ties with the Jewish Diaspora? In what way can the Jewish and Greek diasporas cooperate?
Both Greece and Israel have large and vital diasporas, which closely monitor and support their respective homelands on issues of national interest.

Improved ties between Greece and Israel have also brought Jewish and Greek communities in the diaspora closer. This rapprochement clearly provides them with an opportunity both for local cooperation and for enhancing the mutual support of our national interests...


...complete article http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=228616

^^

:applause:

I like this love relationship we have with the Greeks!

Jewish Businessmen Invest 500 Million Euros for Tourist Facility, Crete

Jewish businessmen intend to spend the astronomical sum of 500 million euros in order to build an area of ​​2,500 acres as a large tourist facility in the Peninsula Municipality, Crete.

This facility will include a very luxury hotel, tourist parks, shopping and exhibition centers, and will work as a tourist destination throughout the year. The purpose of the investment is to welcome another 500,000 tourists annually to Crete, who used to prefer Antalya, Turkey for their vacations.
The foreign businessmen are now waiting for an immediate response from the Greek government, so as to move into their business activities in short-term procedures. This new project will undoubtedly boost the economy of Crete and the rest of Greece. To note that the investment will be based on global standards, as they have been working on the concept of the hotel for nearly twenty years.
As local bodies and all those who will be involved in the project believe, the whole investment will strengthen the local economy and will be the precursor to reopen the way to the inflow of foreign capital in Greece.

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/06/23/investment-of-500-million-euros-for-tourist-facility-on-crete/


:applause: this is the type of significant investment Greece needs. Bravo to the investors and developers. Lets hope it all goes well. One to watch. :)

^^ This how your journalist writes about people? :?

Jewish businessman?
Do they also refer to people as a Muslim investors or Greek Orthadox Buyer? :?:?

^^ Actually, I thought the same thing.

I'm sure no offense was intended. For Greeks, Israeli and Jewish is synonymous, just like the world (media included) and even some Israelis, refer to Israel as the Jewish state. Anyway, please take the positive out of the report, it's really good news for a country in much need of investment and underscores the level of co-operation between both countries in recent times. Hope that makes sense. However, in any case, I still do understand your confusion.

^^ Actually, I thought the same thing.

I'm sure no offense was intended. For Greeks, Israeli and Jewish is synonymous, just like the world (media included) and even some Israelis, refer to Israel as the Jewish state. Anyway, please take the positive out of the report, it's really good news for a country in much need of investment and underscores the level of co-operation between both countries in recent times. Hope that makes sense. However, in any case, I still do understand your confusion.

:) They call me the Evrei Malaka down in Greek Town

^^ lol, yes the M-word is a common term of endearment, depending on the context of course. They like you Kappa. :)

Report from last month's visit by the Greek president to Israel

A Symbol of Peace-Greek President Plants an Olive Tree

“The nation of Greece would like to express its deep love and friendship for another ancient people in this region, the nation of Israel,” said Dr. Karolos Papoulias, the president of Greece, during a brief tree planting ceremony at KKL-JNF's Grove of the Nations tree planting site...

...“We are united with your nation historically and culturally, and in our joint desire to advance security and peace. I hope that the new chapter recently opened in the ties between Greece and Israel will be a new beginning that will continue to develop and flourish long into the future, just like this tree, for the sake of both of our nations, and also for the sake of all the nations of the region,” said the Greek president...

... I would like to take this opportunity to thank the president and the people of Greece for coming to Israel’s aid during the December forest fire which devastated the northern Carmel forest. Greek planes were among the first to come help Israel put out the raging fire. Thanks to you and the planes you sent, we were able to prevent a larger disaster,” Stenzler said, to a round of applause from the Israeli members of the audience. Wishing a speedy and healthy recovery for the Greek economy, Stenzler concluded: “We at KKL-JNF would be pleased to cooperate on ventures related to water, energy conservation, afforestation and more, together with Greece, a country we love and respect.”...

complete article http://www.jpost.com/GreenIsrael/PEOPLEANDTHEENVIRONMENT/Article.aspx?id=229402

Im starting to like these greeks :) Good people! Good army!

Turkey was yesterdays news!
We want free trade among the hellenic people and the Judeos..just like we did a few millenias ago :)

Greeks > Turks, and I live in a city where every second person is Greek.

Shiri Maimon is also half-Greek and i've been in love with her since 2005 eurovision.

http://www.myuniquegiftidea.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/shiri-maimon.jpg

Yehuda Poliker - Greek Israeli. Parents from Saloniki

kUt0veBsDrc

:) They call me the Evrei Malaka down in Greek Town

Doesn't that translate to "the impotent Jew" or something like that?

Doesn't that translate to "the impotent Jew" or something like that?

Ill make you impotent after I give you an un-officiated circumcision.....

Ill make you impotent after I give you an un-officiated circumcision.....

I was serious, Evrei should mean Jew and isn't malaka the name of that Greek hand gesture when they wish impotency upon someone?

:mad: everyone calls everyone in Greece Malaka... im trying to fit into their obscure and often joyful culture!


When are you going to make a Croatia-Israel friendship alliance thread?

greeks use this word a lot
close friends use this word speaking to each other.
so ya you can sometimes hear greeks use the malaka word very often in a few sentences lol
it can be used in a friendly way to friends,
and if u dunno someone and say it,it aint such a good thing unless u wanna provoke them :)
so ya if a greek says hey malaka how r u he is saying something to the sort of , how r u doing buddy

Doesn't that translate to "the impotent Jew" or something like that?

dunno where you got this translation from lol but it is inaccurate :)

It means Wanker or Jerk off........It can also mean asshole... Malakia means to masterbate or semen......

:) Greek culture is fun..
Look whats happening in Toronto this weekend:
http://www.therock.fm/files/uploads/Event/4e31890895d5e.jpg

^^ Taller Better has shocased the Toronto Greektown (Toronto Greektown) in his excellent thread. Looks like a happening district, very nice.

Also, it's true Toronto and New York City have large established Greek communities. The 'Greektown' of NYC is Astoria (Astoria). There are also many other North American cities with large Greek ancestry populations, including Chicago and Detroit where you'll also find Greektowns, Montreal, Boston and to a lesser extent Vancouver and San Francisco. However you will just about find a Greek community be it small or large in tens of North American cites, from Birmingham (Birmingham) Alabama, historic Tarpon Springs (Tarpon Springs) Florida, San Diego (San Diego) California, Charlotte (Charlotte) North Carolina and just about every city with a sizeable population. The Greektowns were once heavily populated by Greeks but now they've become more or less areas to visit for the food and culture, as the community has in general spread out and moved to greener pastures. Still, the Greektowns that remain, act as focal points for going out and staging festivals and events. The Greektown in Chicago is getting prepared for the opening of a new, state-of-the-art National Hellenic Museum (National Hellenic Museum), which will add another cultural attraction to the popular dining precinct. Many of the Greek communities in the diaspora that stage Greek festivals, including Toronto's, by all accounts have become major cultural festivals in each respective city.

There also of course exist many other large Greek ancestry communities in the global diaspora, in places such as Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, Sao Paolo, Buenos Airies, Cape town, Jo'burg etc. In fact there are many parallels with where the Jewish diaspora is centred around the world, even down to similar areas that they settled. This is particularly evident in 'old world' cities such as London, Paris, Marseille, Vienna, Budapest, Liverpool, Manchester, Venice, Trieste, Istanbul, Odessa, Alexandria etc, but also in 'new world' places. Here's one example with the area of Belleville (Belleville) in Paris. There are others cities too where you'll see a Greek Orthodox church and literally across or down the road there'll also be a Jewish synagogue. Minorities tend to settle in particular areas for all sorts of reasons, no less a feeling of security in a sometimes hostile host environment (in the past at least). Greeks, Jews and I'd have to say Armenians too are very much diaspora peoples from way back and have tended to settle in the same areas before upward mobility saw them spread out to other areas. Being next to each other also allowed for business to be conducted for mutual benefit and this occured often as Greeks, Jews and Armenians were very much employed in commerce and trade. But that's another long story! :cheers:

There is also Jewish Greeks living in Astoria, NY.

I see alot of commercials on Israeli TV advertising this kosher greek resturant :)

When are you going to make a Croatia-Israel friendship alliance thread?

Right now.:)

Right now.:)


9:57
No sign of the thread or texas ranger..........

So, when are you Jews going to use your magical powers to destroy Turkey once and for all?

So, when are you Jews going to use your magical powers to destroy Turkey once and for all?

:evil: power ranger time!!!!!!!!!!

great

Amazing :banana:

0-1:D

^^ Fuck you ustache!!!!!!! :mad:

No to Greek-Israeli alliance anymore.
No to Croatian-Israeli alliance!!!!!!!!!!!


Only Kappa-Israeli alliance :mad:

:(

What if we let your Semitic brothers (the Maltese) beat us?:)

No!!!!

The only alliance you will have is with the noose hanging for you in my yard :mad:

You ruined my 2012 Eurotrip!!!! you should be ashamed!

Well, Israel could theoretically still qualify...

^^ Fuck you ustache!!!!!!! :mad:

No to Greek-Israeli alliance anymore.
No to Croatian-Israeli alliance!!!!!!!!!!!


Only Kappa-Israeli alliance :mad: You're sore that Greece beat Israel in Tel Aviv Kappa? Your reaction seems as bad as other brainless football fanatics around the world, and in particular the Mediterranean fans. Fanatical Greek football fans are a shocker I must say and I'm not a fan of the Greek league either, what a shambles that can be. Anyway, relax bro it's only a game and there has to be a winner. Unfortunately for you this time round Israel came out second best, but I'm sure their time will come when they shine. Geez :ohno:

anywayz, we can all read about the game here :)
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002258/postmatch/report/index.html
Friendly rivalry is a good thing, fanaticism is not. :cheers:

Latest news!

Greece, Israel sign Cooperation Memorandum
4 Sep 2011

Greek Defence Minister Panos Beglitis and his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak, with whom he met in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon starting his three-day official visit to Israel, signed a Cooperation Memorandum in the security sector between Greece and Israel.

Beglitis said "I come as my country's Defence Minister to state our political will as a government, as well as the majority of the country's political forces, for the two countries, the two governments, the two peoples, to work together so that we can further develop and deepen our bilateral relations in all sectors of mutual interest and concern".

This is the first visit by a Greek Defence minister to Israel and part of a cooperation memorandum agreed last year between Prime Minister George Papandreou and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while it is also taking place at a moment when Israel's relations with Turkey are worsening, shaping new balance factors in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Greek Defence minister clarified, however, that his visit exclusively concerns bilateral relations with the state of Israel and is not functioning competitively with other countries in the region.

He said he shares concerns on the security of the state of Israel and its legal right that emanates from International Law on self defence, condemning all those terrorist acts from organisations that operate from occupied Palestinian territory against citizens of the State of Israel.

Barak also spoke with positive words of the upgrading of the two countries' military and defence cooperation, expressing his satisfaction over his Greek counterpart's visit.

"We are seeing with satisfaction the deepening and widening of relations between us and the Greeks in all sectors, including the security sector, and we desire to see the deepening and widening of this cooperation between the governments, between the Defence Ministries and between our peoples," Barak said.

Beglitis also met with the chief of general staff of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz., while on Monday he will be received by President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while he will also have a private meeting with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. (AMNA)

http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/10/46823

You're sore that Greece beat Israel in Tel Aviv Kappa? Your reaction seems as bad as other brainless football fanatics around the world, and in particular the Mediterranean fans. Fanatical Greek football fans are a shocker I must say and I'm not a fan of the Greek league either, what a shambles that can be. Anyway, relax bro it's only a game and there has to be a winner. Unfortunately for you this time round Israel came out second best, but I'm sure their time will come when they shine. Geez :ohno:

anywayz, we can all read about the game here :)
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002258/postmatch/report/index.html
Friendly rivalry is a good thing, fanaticism is not. :cheers:

I like football and i like violence.
Welcome to the real football factories....malaka!!!!

:mad: but the better team won and thats that......
I was ready to celebrate a victory..or atleast a tie

lol, violence breeds violence Kappa, you המאונן :bash::guns1:

Is that the equivalent to malaka in Hebrew, and is it used as loosely in everyday speech as it is in Greek? hehe...just curious :)

And yes the better team did win. Soak it up lad!! :banana:

No!!!!

The only alliance you will have is with the noose hanging for you in my yard :mad:

You ruined my 2012 Eurotrip!!!! you should be ashamed!

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/3/misc-haha.gif

lol, violence breeds violence Kappa, you המאונן :bash::guns1:

Is that the equivalent to malaka in Hebrew, and is it used as loosely in everyday speech as it is in Greek? hehe...just curious :)

And yes the better team did win. Soak it up lad!! :banana:

Amnon?!?!? Masterbator?!?!?!
I wouldnt really call someone a masterbator...it doesnt sound so cliche to attack another person and yell at him....hey you...masterbator.... cause we all do it. and it feels good :)

בן זונה
Fal-tzan (fart)
monyack! (bastard)

I will never soak it up. Now my friends of Greek decent got something to insult me...this is worse when you Hellenic monkeys won Euro 2004, Eurovision and the Eurobasket all at once....... beginners luck i say!!

I will never repay you....we Hebrews will never forgive you guys! All you guys brought to the holy land was homosexuality, democracy and sports!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! and the money that i lost in Euro 2012....i think im getting it up the ass from you guys too!!!!!! :bash:


but on a side note.....we do recognize that there was some hellenic presence in Cyprus even back in the old testament as we traded regularly with these people from an Island that had Hellenic upbringing. When in Jerusalem, be sure to bring some Cypricot wine as they say in the talmud :D

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/3/misc-haha.gif

Laugh all you want.
If Erodogan and his crooks hadnt kick our envoys out of Ankara, we would have supported Turkey in your group of anti-semites!!!!!!!!!!

Austria!!!!! Germany!!! Belgium!!! Boratzistans!!!!!! Azerbijians (Waffen SS)!!!!!! :mad: and now Turkey!!! :mad:

Surely, you can trust a Belgian? As many Israeli now do.....

I hear that Greek music is pretty popular in Israel....


x8Gawc6OiJk

6JLH3IbEvNQ



This is a good book about the small Jewish community that once lived in Ioannina in Northwestern Greece (Epirus).


We are few: folklore and ethnic identity of the Jewish community of Ioannina ... By Annette B. Fromm
http://books.google.com/books?id=1ffqRnV4WjoC&pg=PA15&dq=ioannina+greek+jews&hl=en&ei=IJJlTo6mHqzK0AHajtmRCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=ioannina%20greek%20jews&f=false

^^ Yaaa....there is alot of Greek Jews living in Israel. They release alot of albums because they usually become somewhat of a music star when they perform in private events like weddings and then get acclaimed.......

In the last few years, you had Israeli music with a mix of Greek as well. Which was kinda interesting :)

Amnon?!?!? Masterbator?!?!?!
I wouldnt really call someone a masterbator...it doesnt sound so cliche to attack another person and yell at him....hey you...masterbator.... cause we all do it. and it feels good :) I see. well I just put jerk or wanker I think, into google translate and that came out.



I will never soak it up. Now my friends of Greek decent got something to insult me...this is worse when you Hellenic monkeys won Euro 2004, Eurovision and the Eurobasket all at once....... beginners luck i say!! lol, pretty-lame jealousy I say. Easy now. This is supposed to be a friendly, decent thread, keep it civil and let's not ruin it by running off wild. :)

I will never repay you....we Hebrews will never forgive you guys! All you guys brought to the holy land was homosexuality, democracy and sports!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! and the money that i lost in Euro 2012....i think im getting it up the ass from you guys too!!!!!! :bash: :nuts: All three supposed 'Greek things' are accepted ways of life in most civilized countries my friend. As far as I can see from these forums, today Tel Aviv is a very liberal gay friendly city for starters, which is great, especially considering the wider region and their intoreance towards gay people. Actually we can talk about the enormous contribution that Hellenism and Judaism have historically made to humanity, and continue to be enormously influential. The 'rationalism and revelation' theories. Perhaps later in this thread.


but on a side note.....we do recognize that there was some hellenic presence in Cyprus even back in the old testament as we traded regularly with these people from an Island that had Hellenic upbringing. When in Jerusalem, be sure to bring some Cypricot wine as they say in the talmud :D Yes, Hellenic presence in Cyprus has been around for thousands of years. The Hellenic presence has also been significant in the Holy Land over time, right down to modern times with the establishment of the Greek colony and Katamon (derived from down at the monastery in Greek) districts in Jerusalem in the 19th and 20th century. The Greek Orthodox Community constructed many buildings there, which still stand, including churches of course, a recently restored community centre, hospital, schools, many beautiful stone homes and shops etc. Ellias Messinas the bioclimatic architect who is Greek-Jewish and whom I mentioned earlier in a post, conducts tours of Greek sites in and around Jerusalem, including the palatial Greek Orthodox Patriachate complex.

As for the historic Romaniote Greek-speaking Jews of Ioannina (Janina), some of them migrated to NYC and established this very interesting synagogue in the Lower East Side, which has been declared a heritage landmark.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Kehila_Kedosha_Janina.jpg/366px-Kehila_Kedosha_Janina.jpg
picture from wikipedia

http://www.kkjsm.org/

Laugh all you want.
If Erodogan and his crooks hadnt kick our envoys out of Ankara, we would have supported Turkey in your group of anti-semites!!!!!!!!!!

Austria!!!!! Germany!!! Belgium!!! Boratzistans!!!!!! Azerbijians (Waffen SS)!!!!!! :mad: and now Turkey!!! :mad:

Surely, you can trust a Belgian? As many Israeli now do.....

what's wrong with Boratzistan?

oh, sorry

Vb3IMTJjzfo

:D

^^ Bastard!!!!!!!!

Revive the Turkey - Israeli alliance thread, will you? :)

^^ Bastard!!!!!!!!

Revive the Turkey - Israeli alliance thread, will you? :)

there's nothing left to revive :(

^^ Bastard!!!!!!!!

Revive the Turkey - Israeli alliance thread, will you? :)

Thanks to Erdogan, that appears to be highly unlikely.:)

:cry:

I hear that Greek music is pretty popular in Israel....
That seems to be the case, I've even heard Greek music on Kol Israel back when they used to broadcast on shortwaves.

That seems to be the case, I've even heard Greek music on Kol Israel back when they used to broadcast on shortwaves.

Greek music just mixes into the mainstream popular of Israeli oriental music.
In terms of what would break out first...i say it would have been Greek music.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4119984,00.html

:banana:

It seems the Greeks are going to legalize all drugs and that they are going to build a mosque in Athens. The Greeks politicians really seem to have their hearts set on destroying Greece and Greek society.

:? u starting to troll

:? u starting to troll

Reporting news relevant to the topic at hand is not trolling.

U didnt touch your croatian thread after i left some chetnik resistance on it :D

U didnt touch your croatian thread after i left some chetnik resistance on it :D

I will do it now. :D

It seems the Greeks are going to legalize all drugs and that they are going to build a mosque in Athens. The Greeks politicians really seem to have their hearts set on destroying Greece and Greek society. Excuse me, but what are you on about, 'Greek politicians destroying Greek society'? Firstly, you're way off topic, and the last thing I want to see, is this thread degenerate into a BS-fest, so please have something positive to contribute, otherwise don't post irrelevant comments.

But since you brought these issues up, let me just say that for starters a mosque for Athens is long overdue, and it's just typical for something so imperative has been stalled for too long, just like important reforms that the country needed before it got itself into this arguably irrevocable mess it's in now. So, a mosque for Athens and any other house of worship that is needed for its citizens is a just cause. As for legalizing drugs, that only extends to so-callled soft drugs, such as marajuana and party substances and only for small personal posession, not for dealers and cultivators. That way the police force will be relieved of these smaller infringements and can concentrate on major crime, which unfortunately has skyrocketed in Greece over recent years, due to the economic crisis, along with other reasons. Please stay on topic. I know you've started a Croatian-Israeli friendship thread so post some good news in there. Croatia is a beautiful country and with its sunny islands, Veneto-Mediterranean architecture, maritime heritage and Southern European laid-back ambience, it too has many parallels to Greece. Some places like Trogir, Korcula etc have Greek heritage as ancient colonies, and I want to visit Lošinj one day and see the magnificent Lošinj statue of Apoxyomenos (Lošinj statue of Apoxyomenos) that was found off the coast. Croatia with its incredible diversity and storied past is a fascinating destination. Hope to read more interesting posts in the threads you've started. :cheers:

^^ I didnt take his words seriously about drugs and mosques, but now that you added the mosque issue...i do want to know more.

I talked to many greeks over the years about Islam/Turkey and Greece in general. One thing they take pride in is the fact that there is no mosques in greece and/or no mosques in Athens. I guess there is alot of animosity towards Muslims living in Greece because of what the Ottoman Turks did. None the less, times have changed and Greece has many culture groups of immigrants who came from Albanian, Bosnia, Africa, Arab states, Afganistan and Pakistan...so they would need a place to worship somehow instead of a rented store or someones house.

I dont know what Greeks are thinking about this mosque? Any comment from Papazafantasiclaplollolapozapolous? :D

^^ I didnt take his words seriously about drugs and mosques, but now that you added the mosque issue...i do want to know more.

I talked to many greeks over the years about Islam/Turkey and Greece in general. One thing they take pride in is the fact that there is no mosques in greece and/or no mosques in Athens. Actually that's completely wrong. There are over 250 mosques in Greece, in particular where the majority of Greece's historic moslem population lives, in Thrace and elsewhere in northern Greece. These people of Turkish and Pomak ethnicity have been living in Greece for hundreds of years and along with Christians and Jews made up the multi-religious population of the Ottoman Empire of present-day Greece. When the exchange of population occured between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s, the areas of Thrace were exempt from the exchange as were the Greeks of Istanbul. Whilst the Greek population of Istanbul has dwindled, the moslems of Thrace have steadily grown.

I don't think any Greeks should be 'proud' that there's supposedly no mosques in Greece and to be honest i've never really heard that from Greeks, although there is a degree of anti-moslem sentiment, but rarely manifested in an overt way, and probably as much as there is in any Christian-majority nation. Greece doesn't have a Geert Wilders influential member of parliament like in Holland, who openly and unashamedly makes disgraceful remarks and fosters Islamophobia. If there are Greeks who are supposedly proud of the lack of moslems, well they are definitely poorly educated, ignorant and chauvenistic. In fact, this moslem population for the most part is well integrated into Greek society, but with some problems that any minority may face.

I guess there is alot of animosity towards Muslims living in Greece because of what the Ottoman Turks did. None the less, times have changed and Greece has many culture groups of immigrants who came from Albanian, Bosnia, Africa, Arab states, Afganistan and Pakistan...so they would need a place to worship somehow instead of a rented store or someones house. Yes, no doubt animosity exists in some sectors of society, usually the extreme right, like elsewhere in Europe. However it is rarely expressed in an overt way. Those who continue to have animosity are usually brainwashed and like I said, poorly educated, ignorant and chauvenistic. I'd say there's more anti-German sentiment by these types of people today in Greece, who (wrongly imo) feel that the Germans are imposing too much on Greece during this economic crisis, and whom are now bringing up Nazi Germany's wrong-doings in Greece during WWII, and feel that Germany still owes them something. We shouldn't forget the injustices of the past, but mature and intelligent people move on and forgive. Holding hatred is just detrimental for the person who carries hate and society in general. Plus, Turks and Germans of today are not to blame for what happened in a generation they weren't even born into. The Turks have also made some important steps into improving the conditions of the last Greeks living in Turkey, especially in the area of property restitution (property restitution), which has also affected the Jewish and other Christian communities there.

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/09/05/3089230/greece-israel-sign-security-cooperation-agreement

Actually that's completely wrong. There are over 250 mosques in Greece, in particular where the majority of Greece's historic moslem population lives, in Thrace and elsewhere in northern Greece. These people of Turkish and Pomak ethnicity have been living in Greece for hundreds of years and along with Christians and Jews made up the multi-religious population of the Ottoman Empire of present-day Greece. When the exchange of population occured between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s, the areas of Thrace were exempt from the exchange as were the Greeks of Istanbul. Whilst the Greek population of Istanbul has dwindled, the moslems of Thrace have steadily grown.

Seems like Turkey got the worse of the population transfter with Turkey. I guess it was right after the war. Although Constantinople seemed to be important for Orthodox Christians.

Seems like Turkey got the worse of the population transfter with Turkey. I guess it was right after the war. Although Constantinople seemed to be important for Orthodox Christians.

It still is.

only to greeks

^^ No, not only to Greeks. In fact in Greece the head of the church is different. The Patriarchate which resides in Istanbul is the spiritual head of all the world's Eastern Orthodox peoples, and therefore important to all followers of Orthodoxy.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the living embodiment of an ancient tradition. From his historic base in Istanbul, Turkey, the 270th Patriarch of Constantinople claims to be the direct successor of the Apostle Andrew.

Today he's considered "first among equals" in the leadership of the Greek Orthodox church, and is the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians around the world

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/08/26/wus.patriarch/index.html


Despite the economic crisis in Greece, it's been a good year for the tourism industry, with record numbers of arrivals, including a substantial rise in Israeli (Israeli) tourists.

Here's an interesting article from the cool mayor of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and once home to a large, but still existing Jewish community. More about Thessaloniki's fascinating Jewish heritage later on hopefully.

Thessaloniki mayor hopes to attract Israeli tourists

“We cannot look into the future without knowing the past. Not for nothing was it called the Jerusalem of the Balkans."

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris has always felt close to the Jewish community of his city, he told The Jerusalem Post at the Israel Trade Fairs Center on Tuesday.

“My first lover in high school was Jewish,” the white-haired mayor, who exudes an air of sophistication, recalled as he lit up a cigarette. “She later got married in Paris, but I had several Jewish friends in class.”

The dapper Boutaris wants to bring Israeli tourists to Thessaloniki to observe its rich Jewish heritage and taste the port city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere.

“Thessaloniki is looking back and accepting its identity,” Boutaris said earlier at a press conference. “We cannot look into the future without knowing the past. Not for nothing was it called the Jerusalem of the Balkans, and it could be that again.”

Sitting beside him was Hasdai Kapon, one of the city’s seven deputy mayors and its first senior Jewish municipal official since World War II.

“About 1,300 Jews live in the city,” Kapon said. “There are two synagogues and a small but very good Jewish community, a Jewish elementary school and well-preserved cemeteries. We have Jews come and visit from all over the world.”

Jews are believed to have first settled in Thessaloniki in ancient times, but the arrival of Sephardic Jews after their expulsion from Spain in 1492 rejuvenated the community, and for the next several hundred years it often had a Jewish majority.

Their prominence was such that the city’s port would officially close for Shabbat.

“There were 50,000 Jews before the war,” Boutaris said.

“Sephardic Jews who started arriving 500 years ago found a home in Thessaloniki. The Jewish element was very important in commerce and culture – and let’s not forget that the leader of the socialist movement in Thessaloniki was a Jew.”

Thessaloniki lost its Jewish majority around the turn of the 19th century due to immigration into the city by Greeks and Turks from the countryside, and emigration by its community members to places like North America, which offered better financial opportunities.

During the Holocaust, about 96 percent of the Jews of Thessaloniki were murdered by the Nazis in concentration camps – a loss that Boutaris said left an indelible scar on his city.

From his earring and the tattoos of his astrological sign (Libra) on his knuckles, it is apparent that the current mayor of Thessaloniki is not your average politician. Born into a family of winemakers, he has a degree in oenology.

Before entering politics, he was a businessman, and his first steps in public life were as a conservationist and animal rights activist.

“In Greece we had a practice of abusing brown bears,” he said. “We pushed the Agriculture Ministry not only to prevent their abuse, but also to preserve their habitat. You cannot save the bears without preserving the forest.”

Following his involvement in a successful campaign to protect a landmark building in Thessaloniki, he decided to run as an independent candidate in the mayoral elections last year and, with the backing of the socialists, emerged triumphant.

Israel is one of the first places Boutaris has visited since he was sworn into office on January 1.

“I was last here in 1975 and went to two kibbutzim – I know they aren’t doing well now – to import drip irrigation to Greece,” he recalled. “Back then, Tel Aviv didn’t have all these high-rise buildings. I love the research and development Israel has done and the Bauhaus architecture.”

The campaign promoting Israeli tourism to Thessaloniki comes at a time when the number of Israeli tourists to nearby Turkey has dropped dramatically because of political tensions between the two countries. But Israelis who choose to go to Thessaloniki to avoid interacting with the Turks might end up disappointed.

“We have many Turkish tourists who come to Thessaloniki,” Boutaris said. “After all, it is the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal,” the father of modern Turkey.

A group of American Jewish leaders is currently on a five day visit to Greece. The delegation from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations visited a Holocaust memorial Tuesday in Thessaloniki, and is due to meet Prime Minister George Papandreou in Athens on Thursday.

Greek and Israeli officials say the two countries are in preliminary talks on potential energy deals involving Israeli offshore natural gas deposits.

http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?ID=207584&R=R1

Things in Greece get worse with each passing day: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE78B3PD20110912?sp=true

^^ Like I said already in an earlier post, things are going to get worse before they get better, and although tourism has seen records numbers that hasn't translated into greater revenue, because Greece has become a competitively cheaper destination, coupled with the instability in other parts of the Med, and hence attracting more visitors. However, just reaffirming that this thread isn't about the Greek economy, so please try to stay on topic.

:D Club med.......

I like to visit Saloniki.....
would be better than going off to the former disputed yugoslavs

:D Club med.......

I like to visit Saloniki.....
would be better than going off to the former disputed yugoslavs

Western Bulgaria (A.K.A. FYR Macedonia) is the only Yugoslav republic I have never been to. Ohrid is supposedly nice.

Western Bulgaria (A.K.A. FYR Macedonia) is the only Yugoslav republic I have never been to. Ohrid is supposedly nice.

I dont care where you been....... your part of the FYRPS of Croatia.....

Believe me Orthodox Christians outside of Greece don't give a shit about the Patriarchate in Ist and they hardly consider the Patriarch as their spiritual leader as CNN wants us to believe. Needless to mention that in some Orthodox countries 'fanariot' is an insult.

^^:ohno: Believe what you want to believe. The Patriachate carries enormous significance and symbolism as the origins of world-wide Orthodoxy and the Patriarch commands enormous respect, rolling out the red carpet and treated as a high dignitary wherever he goes.

Russia, the most populous Orthodox nation.
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/594/patriarchinrussia.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/patriarchinrussia.jpg/)

http://www.goarch.org/news/ecumpatriarchinmoscow/at_download/image

Ukraine
http://blog.kievukraine.info/uploaded_images/6040-722077.jpg

Romania with Romanian patriarch
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoTQoeurEveyS78iOiqmFuhnNexAG6tHjXzzAAPQURPl4SYSaQV3Mgn6OY

Bulgaria with Bulgarian patriarch
http://www.novinite.com/media/images/2010-07/photo_verybig_118234.jpg

Vatican
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld//files/2010/09/cr_mega_59_cathorth-3.jpg

Washington
http://sdgmusic.org/bannister/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Patriarch-Bartholomew-with-Obama-300x204.jpg

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew also has earnt much praise and respect, beyond his spiritual leadership, as an environmental leader, known as the Green Patriarch (Green Patriarch). He has also been considered as one of the world's most influential people (most influential people), explained by Anglican leader Archbishop Rowan Williams in Time magazine.


Anyway, we've diverted from the main topic, so please stick to topic, because I don't care to discuss this any further.

>Believe what you want to believe

Likewise :)

Greece and Israel – Aerial Cooperation

http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=508

aSw8AR7oppY

http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2011/09/defence-minister-beglitis-concludes-visit-to-israel/

Defence Minister Beglitis concludes visit to Israel
September 7, 2011 | Filed under: Featured News,Geopolitics

Greek National Defence Minister Panos Beglitis once again addressed a strict message to Turkey, this time from Israel, where he concluded his three-day oficial visit on Tuesday.

Beglitis said “the threats, as they are expressed by various officials of Turkey do not help the climate of peaceful coexistence and cooperation of the countries” and added that “the relations of Greece with Israel are not competitive with the countries of the Arab world, nor of course with Turkey, but have an autonomous character, they are not related to third parties and we are looking ahead, through the development of these relations, as we are also interested in the further development of relations with Turkey, on the basis however of respect for International Law and International Treaties and not on a basis of unilateral practices, attitudes and threats. This, as is evident, cannot be accepted by anyone.”

The Defence minister stressed “we are in a period where there must be calmness by all sides in the region of the Mediterranean.”

“It is not a period of conflicts and confrontations,” he added and called on all sides to contribute, through the development of cooperation, to the effort for a better and safer region “where all will find their interest, the interest in peace, security and cooperation.”

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/beglitis_israel_holoc_mus-300x199.jpg

Defence Minister Panos Beglitis in the Hall of Names of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem

After his meetings on Tuesday with the President of the Republic of Israel Shimon Peres and Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Beglitis spoke of a “common will for the further development and deepening of bilateral relations at all levels of mutual interest,” while, as he said, he ascertained that “there are always margins for us to widen our relation always on an equal basis and with mutual benefit.”

The agenda of talks with the Israeli officials included the situation in the Middle East.

“There is, as is evident, an increased concern on the part of Israel, on developments more widely in the region of the Middle East. They are concerns that we share for its security as well as wider security in the region,” the minister said and added “the political message that I sent to the Israeli government and my colleagues ministers who I met is that Greece and Israel can work together in the shaping of a strategic relation that will help the stability and security of the wider region. We can constitute two reliable and stable pylons for the security and stability of the wider region and this is important in a period of big upheavals and reversals. Greece and Israel can, through a strategic partnership relation, shape those conditions for the stability of the wider region that we all need so much.” (AMNA)

Source: athensnews.gr

Good news :)
I like that....... i just wish more greeks were friendly to Israelis :(


I also like Cyprus. I usually said to my Greek friends that the Greeks in Cyprus had more sanity than their brothers in the mainland :lol:

Good news :)
I like that....... i just wish more greeks were friendly to Israelis :(


I also like Cyprus. I usually said to my Greek friends that the Greeks in Cyprus had more sanity than their brothers in the mainland :lol:

Cypriots are probably the most level headed Greeks in the world. Anti-Israel and even anti-semetic feelings in Greece still run strong, especially amongst the press and the politically savvy Greek youth, but it is behaviour learned not ingrained in Greek culture as our Cypriot brothers prove since there isn't the same level of bias in Nicosia as there was in Athens.

The anti-Israel sentiment grew with the election of Andreas Papandreou (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Papandreou) after the Junta of the 60s and early 70s (current PMs father). He was staunchly leftist, against Greek NATO membership, extremely pro-Arab and anti-U.S as well as anti-Israel.

He came to embody the hate and contempt Greeks came to feel for the right-wing/capitalist systems which they believed (and still do) were responsible for many ills of the country, culminating in the American backed military coup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Junta) of 1967.

All this said, the new Greece-Israel relationship is positive, pragmatic, as well as a long time coming. Of course Greece can never replace the economic benefits your *former* friend provided, but it can provide a safe destination for Israeli tourists (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=israeli-tourists-renounce-turkey-choose-greece-2010-09-20) to spread their legs on a sandy beach in a region where Israelis have few options for such travels.

Greece can also host IDF/AF planes for training (http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=639). Due to the airspace limitations being what they are in Israel, and Greece have an abundance of land and maritime areas available for this purpose, its a good match in this way too.

And the relationship has born more fruits recently too, with Greece assisting in helping to avoid another regrettable and dangerous incident in the Med by blocking the Free Gaza flotilla (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyYd6-HP8G8), probably saving some of the activists' lives, and depriving HAMAS of a diplomatic victory, and offering to deliver the aid with the help of the Hellenic Navy.

Israel's partnership with Cyprus (http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/drilling-oil-and-gas-start-october-1/20110803) in helping to exploit the gas buried beneath block 12 of Cyprus' EEZ will not only mean the supply for Israel and Cyprus of natural gas will be set for the near future, but also for the EU.

The recent agreement to purchase Israeli (http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2011/09/approved-the-procurement-of-spice-and-tank-ammunition/) made SPICE bomb kits also enhances the abilities of the HAF.

This relationship is still in its infancy but I believe both sides stand to gain in the end.

Greek youth or Greeks in general being politically 'savvy' that's just false, Greeks, if anything are simply and detrimentally over-politicised (in all sections of society, from football to universities etc etc) and although many Greek youth think they're switched on politically, they're just following what they've read or heard from an often sensationalised, caustic media, who think they know it all, but are actually full of conspiracy theories and out-dated, unrealistic, illogical explanations of global affairs. Many Greeks can also follow their beliefs, left or right, like a football club, refusing to be swayed even if evidence is flatly placed in front of them. To give one example of current affairs. Greek media has strongly pushed the anti-German line and many Greeks, including youth, are blaming the Germans (wrongly) for the economic crisis and believe Germany owes them something for what happened in WWII. They will go around saying that Germans were swinging from trees when we were writing philosophy, but can't realize we're they're at now and where the Germans are, as far as society, technology, economy, environmental progress etc are concerned. The media (some sections, not all) is to blame for this unjustified, disgraceful hysteria.

Cypriots are generally quite successful people, you just have to look at their diaspora and the relatively smooth running of their society, however they are not without their ills and I would argue that they display a more overt and backwards mentality than Greeks in Greece, as far as women's rights, gay rights and other social policies, at least the older generation.

Perhaps this comment in Haaretz sums up the real situation in Greece.
Greeks are pro-Israel
Christos
16.08.10 | 13:06 (IDT)
In Greece their is a group of leftist a small minority that would protest for just about anything. Most of them they never had a study job they just live on taxpayer handouts. They spend most of their lives drinking coffee and philosophizing and whenever they run out of things to do they go out and break or firebomb a few shops. The vast silent majority are pro Israel but they use to keep their opinions to themselves now things are changing. Don't forget the all the Muslims in Greece legal and illegal. To the vast majority of Greeks PM Natanyahu he's welcome.

http://www.haaretz.com/misc/comment-page/greeks-are-pro-israel-19.1206357

definately looking for more relationship with the Greeks. Thats for sure!!

I dont see Turkey being a freind anymore. And they are very untrusted. They're true view comes out too easily and usually they cant figure out between their nationalism and religion...both are important, but both contradict one another...

Greece ofcourse has their nationalism, but religion is kinda nationalistic too since you got a special type of Greek Orthdox which is different from Bulgarian, Russia or Romanian eastern orthadoxy.

:) Bring in some feta cheese, please!

Here you go. Feta is sexy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQseqofKuto&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL4B386B37E995B1D9

Turkey: We will freeze ties with EU if Cyprus given 2012 presidency

Comments in wake of recent tensions with Cyprus could signal a new low point in ties between the European Union and Turkey, which began accession talks to the bloc in 2005.


EU-candidate Turkey will freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus is given the EU presidency in 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency Anatolian late on Saturday.

The comments could signal a new low point in ties between the European Union and Turkey which began accession talks to the bloc in 2005.
Erdogan - AP - 21072011


They also come at a time of heightened tension in the eastern Mediterranean where Turkey is locked in a row with Cyprus over potential offshore gas deposits and Turkey's relations with one-time ally Israel are frayed.

"If the peace negotiations there [Cyprus] are not conclusive, and the EU gives its rotating presidency to southern Cyprus, the real crisis will be between Turkey and the EU,"
Anatolian quoted Atalay as telling Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio and TV at the end of a trip to northern Cyprus.

"Because we will then freeze our relations with the EU. We have made this announcement, as a government we have made this decision. Our relations with the EU will come to a sudden halt."

An official at the European Commission declined to comment on Saturday's statement.

The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government is due to take on the six-month rotating EU presidency in July 2012.

Cyprus has been divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. U.N.-sponsored peace talks between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have stumbled since they were relaunched in 2008. The United Nations has set an October deadline for a peace settlement but it is unlikely an agreement will be reached by then.

While Muslim Turkey started EU accession talks in 2005, progress has been slow, largely because of the conflict with Cyprus. The EU says Ankara must meet a pledge to open up traffic from the Greek Cypriot part of the island under a deal known as the Ankara protocol. Turkey says the EU should end its blockade of the Turkish Cypriot enclave.

"Provocation"

Adding to tensions is an escalating row between Turkey and Cyprus over Greek Cypriot plans to launch gas explorations around the island.

Turkey has voiced strong opposition to the plans and on Saturday Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Cyprus' plans amounted to "provocation" and it would consider carrying out its own offshore surveys with northern Cyprus if drilling went ahead.

The Greek Cypriot government has said it would block Turkey's EU-entry talks if Ankara continued to oppose the plans. The United Nations has appealed for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, saying both sides of the island should benefit from any energy reserves.

The European Union, this month, told Turkey not to issue threats against Cyprus.

Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus internationally and in the European Union, while Turkey is the only country to recognize the Turkish Cypriot state.

"Committed to EU accession"

While Cyprus remains a stumbling block to Turkey's entry into the EU, some EU members have voiced opposition to its accession over several other factors ranging from Turkey's cultural differences to fears of an influx into the EU of Turkish migrant workers.

Turkey has introduced many significant reforms over the past decade and has witnessed booming growth rates but the country is still one of Europe's poorest in terms of per capita income.

On Sunday, Turkey's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey was still committed to entering the EU but that this was not solely based on economic gains the country would make.

"There are people, there are certain circles who are beginning to question the EU accession story," Simsek said in an interview with Britain's Sky News.

"But my government is committed to EU accession not because of economic benefits that it might offer in the future it's more about Turkey's political, economic transformation."

The rotating presidency has lost some influence since the EU Lisbon treaty, but a determined country can still shape the agenda.

Of the 35 "chapters" -- policy areas of EU law -- Turkey has completed one, and 18 have been frozen because of opposition by EU member states including Cyprus and France.

^^ Istanbul is up for no good again!

^^ Istanbul is up for no good again!

Common misconception. While Istanbul is Turkey's largest city, and undoubtedly the social and economic capital, Ankara is actually Turkey's capital.

BTW Kappa, I live in Toronto too. :cheers:

Common misconception. While Istanbul is Turkey's largest city, and undoubtedly the social and economic capital, Ankara is actually Turkey's capital.

BTW Kappa, I live in Toronto too. :cheers:

Ooo right right right..... I quickly typed this one... my bad :)

Hey! :) nice to see a fellow Torontonian from the Greek area. Where abouts? Scarborough? Danforth? Or those fringe country towns where u see a random greek flag? :D


In respect to this thread, I just came back from dinner at a Greek Restaurant (Promethues may know this one - Mr. Greek) ...funny story I had there a while back....

Latest development :)

Survivors can regain Greek citizenship


By HERB KEINON
10/16/2011 04:12


Greek Holocaust survivors who lost citizenship after leaving their native country in 1930s will be eligible to retrieve this citizenship.

Greek Holocaust survivors who lost their citizenship after leaving their native country in the 1930s will be eligible to retrieve this citizenship as a result of recent legislation, a spokeswoman at Greece’s embassy in Tel Aviv said on earlier this week.

Three Holocaust survivors went to the embassy this week and formally asked for Greek passports, the spokeswoman said..

The legislation has been in the works ever since Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, who has dramatically steered Athens’s policy toward Israel in a positive direction, took power in 2009.

Karolos Papoulias, Greece’s president, told a group of Greek Holocaust survivors he met with during his visit here in July that he would look into returning passports to the descendants of Jews who lost their citizenship in the 1930s. Among these Jews were hundreds of port workers who came from Salonika to build Haifa Port.

Some of the descendants of these workers, as well as descendants of Greek Holocaust survivors, are keen on regaining the Greek passport because it will enable them to live and work in any of the 27 EU countries. In recent years thousands of Israelis have sought European passports – primarily German – on the basis of their parents’ or grandparents’ ancestry.

There are believed to be around 100 Greek Holocaust survivors in Israel.

The passport issue came up in February when a delegation from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations met with Greek leaders before coming to Israel for their annual conference.

At the time, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis was reported to have announced that Jews whose citizenship was revoked would be able to reclaim it. Legislation, however, was needed to make this possible.

Implementation of the new law “puts an end to one period and marks the beginning of a new one. This law makes possible giving Greek citizenship to Jews of Greek origin who, together with the tragedy of the Holocaust, also faced difficulties of emigration and being cutoff from the place of their birth,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The law, the statement said, made possible the reconnection of Greece with a big part of its diaspora that, “together with their identity as Israelis, never stopped feeling Greek, loving Greece and following all its developments over the years.”

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=241864

^^ I dont know about citizenship and passports..

No one in Greece pays taxes!!!!! Can i get a passport though? I heard my name was actually Dmitry Kappaladaplous? :)

^^ No-one? that's not true. You're reading too many trashy tabloid articles buddy. Yes, tax evasion is ripe, but please let's not go overboard. And now with the new economic measures, the national tax regime has gotten a lot stricter.

A passport for you? Hmmm, do you know how to make good gyros? What they call it in Israel, shwarma or something?

^^ No-one? that's not true. You're reading too many trashy tabloid articles buddy. Yes, tax evasion is ripe, but please let's not go overboard. And now with the new economic measures, the national tax regime has gotten a lot stricter.

thats good! I usually shove it down to Greeks in Canada and they look embarrassed....

I was always worried about Greece since the 2004 Olympics. I read articles that people charged the government for jobs (including Israeli security) atleast 600% of what the real cost with a healthy margin% would be....

think of a days work of paving, while hiring foreign workers would be charged 70,000 dollars to the Malaks Bureaucracy :D

A passport for you? Hmmm, do you know how to make good gyros? What they call it in Israel, shwarma or something?

I can try :) Usually Sri Lankas and Indians make it here.....under tough Greek Supervision.

Im an artist. I prefer to play music. Bring me a bazouki, some arak and a stage and ill give you a good good time :banana:

It's called OUZO mr artiste. :D

Rosa Eskanazi, rebetiko (rebetiko) siren. Maybe Kappa you've heard of her, being into music as you are, and bouzouki music at that. Anyway, I luv her voice and the style of music she sings to. We hear rebetika is also popular in Isreal.

http://mediterraneanpalimpsest.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/eskenazy_1.jpg?w=410&h=250

Roza Eskenazi Tribute Concert in Greek, Turkish, and Ladino

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Dallas DeForest

Last Tuesday I went to a tribute concert for Roza Eskenazi at the Badminton Theater in Athens. Roza Eszkenazi was born to Sephardic Jewish parents as Sarah Skinazi in Constantinople sometime in the mid-1890s (the date is not certain). Her family emigrated to Salonica shortly after the turn of the century, at that time still a part of the Ottoman Empire. When she was still quite young (in her teens) she began her career as a singer, against the wishes of her parents. She was discovered by Panayiotis Toundas in the late 1920s while performing at a taverna and recorded her first song in 1928/9. Thereafter she became one of the most successful female singers on the Greek music scene. She performed with Toundas, Semsis, Tomboulis (an oud master) and many others (including most of the Piraeus greats). Eventually, by the mid-30s, she was one of the highest paid musician in Greece, and was also touring other parts of the eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Serbia, e.g.). Her range was impressive. She sang not only Piraeus-based rebetika, but also Smyrneïka (including many amanedes, see below for one), and demotic folk music. She could perform in Greek, Turkish, Armenian, or Ladino, though she also composed a few songs, most notably To Kanarini (1934). She survived the Nazi occupation of Greece and continued to perform after the war. She toured in America and Turkey in the 50s and enjoyed a brief revival in popularity in the 70s, when rebetika enjoyed a resurgence during and after the Junta (1967-74). She died in 1980 and is buried in Stomio, in the Korinthia, which is about 30 minutes west of Xylokastro on the Korinthian Gulf.

The concert and international tour complement the musical documentary film made by Roy Sher during 2009-10 (not yet available, but you can sign up to receive notice when it is). During the concert clips from this film played in the background—scenes from late Ottoman Constantinople, Salonica, Smyrna, and also some of Athens, but also an interview with Eskenazi in mid 70s. The concert itself was amazing. The group consisted of three singers: Yasmin Levy (Israel), Mehtap Demir (Turkey), and Martha Frintzila (Greece). Throughout the show, Demir and Frintzila exchanged verses in Greek and Turkish, while Levy sang a few songs solo in Ladino. Each had her own style. Demir sang some very haunting amanedes (gazeler in Turkish), while Frintzila brought several of Eskenazi’s most well known songs to life with her exuberant performance. The instrumentation was more Smyrneïka than Piraeus rebetika. Several (apparently) well known international musicians (from Greece and Turkey) played oud, kanoni, violin, guitar, clarinet, drums, and a bouzouki. The violinist was given the lead on many songs (while the bouzouki took the back seat, largely), while the kanoni player (who also played oud) performed several memorable taximia.

The theater was full of people of all ages—young, old and everything in between. And everyone knew the words. Even when Demir sang a song in Turkish, you could hear (and see) Greeks singing along in Greek. One of the more memorable moments of the evening took place when a Greek man walked up on stage to dance a zeimbekiko. At first, the theater techies put the spotlight on him and let him have his moment. But he didn’t leave, so they took the lights away and focused them on the singer (Frintzila). This was useless. He simply danced his way over to her and continued until the song ended. When a man needs to dance zeimbekiko, this is how it goes.

What really made this concert for me, though, was the multicultural approach (an express goal of the musicians). Although I’ve spent a lot of time listening to rebetiko since I moved to Greece last year, I’d never heard it like this live–never in Turkish, nor with such diverse (smyrneïka style) instrumentation (and, in fact, I’d never heard Ladino spoken before). It’s a perfect reflection of Roza’s life, her social background, and, in fact, the background of this entire style of music (rebetika and Smyrneïka), which is to be found in the multicultural late Ottoman world (though we should not downplay the local social roots of Piraeus-based rebetika).

http://mediterraneanpalimpsest.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/a-roza-eskenazi-tribute-concert-in-greek-turkish-and-ladino/

^^ click on link to hear her performing

Never heard about this form of music. Looks interesting.

So is Eskanazi popular?

Rebetika or rebetiko (plural & singular) is the so-called 'Greek blues', the music of the working masses, the marginalised in society, the music of love and loss, hope and despair etc, that would eventually popularise the bouzouki. Once frowned upon, it is now very much loved and appreciated as an art form, seen as an integral part of Greece's modern music heritage, and Rosa Eskanazi, along with many others, including 'the patriarch', Markos Vamvakaris (Markos Vamvakaris) is one of the pillars of this musical genre, even though she sung to other styles of music as well.

Check this out if you're interested further. http://www.rebetiko.gr/en/index.php

http://www.defencegreece.com/index.php/2011/11/joint-air-force-exercise-with-israel-concluded-photos/

Joint air force exercise with Israel concluded
November 19, 2011 | Filed under: Air Force,Featured News

In a sign of ever strengthening ties, a four day joint military exercise between the Greek and Israeli air force, was concluded in southern Israel.

From Monday 14 to Friday, November 18, 2011 five (5) F-16 Block 52 + aircraft of the 337 Squadron of the 110 Combat Wing, participated in a common training exercise with aircraft of the Israeli air Force at Ovda air base in Israel. On the Israeli side participated F-16 as well as F-15 warplanes.

The Hellenic Air Force has released a series of photographs from this exercise.

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_01.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_02.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_04.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_05.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_07.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_09.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_12.jpg

http://www.defencegreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011_sunekp_ell_isrl_11.jpg

^^ This is what i like to see :)

Greece - Israel doing military exercises.
It seems that both nations have the same enemy and we must fight it together :)


And while you guys are at it, why dont you make me some Gyros and some of that Spankopita....that would really hit the spot...

It's good to see how Greek-Israeli relationship are geting stronger.

I hope this can develop into something deep and long-lasting; we need reliable friends.

i think the Greeks are in it for our money :mad: they know where to find deep pockets to get them out of austerity!!!!!

:) But lets talk about Greek food. Im getting an appetite! :)

i think the Greeks are in it for our money :mad: they know where to find deep pockets to get them out of austerity!!!!! Just money? :ohno: There are interests for both countries that goes beyond 'money', and hence closer ties. But let's not be naive, economics does play a part as money does indeed make the world go round, but always remember, money isn't everything, otherwise your morals go out the window. Plus, there's no shortage of super-wealthy Greeks in this world, think of the shipping tycoons, there's quite a few of them and they're doing mighty fine. Unfortunately their ships are registered in tax havens which of course isn't good for the Greek state. And that's just the problem, it's a fiscal economic issue, where yes indeed, Greece has to get its act together with raising taxes and stop borrowing to get it out of the economic mess it's in, and Israelis have been supportive in this.

More details in this article.

‘Diplomacy:Continuing Papandreouism without Papandreou’

By HERB KEINON

Will the golden age of diplomatic ties with Jerusalem continue under Athens’ transitional government?

Shortly after prime minister George Papandreou was forced to step down last week because of Greece’s economic crisis, Israel’s ambassador to Athens Aryeh Mekel sent a cable (made known to The Jerusalem Post) to the Foreign Ministry saying Jerusalem’s challenge would now be to “continue Papandreouism without Papandreou.”

What Mekel was referring to, and what those in the ministry dealing with Athens are currently focusing on, is to ensure that the dramatic turnaround in Israeli-Greek ties ushered in by Papandreou does not follow the former prime minister out the door.

Papandreou shepherded in what could fairly be called a “golden age” in Israeli-Greek ties. Starting when he met Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by chance at a restaurant in Moscow in early 2010, the two leaders clicked. Both spent formative years during their youth in the US and went to college there (Papandreou was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and studied at Amherst, and Netanyahu spent many years in Philadelphia and studied at MIT), both speak American English and both have a decidedly US-tilted foreign policy orientation.

Despite these similarities, this “click” was not a given, inasmuch as being pro- Israeli was not exactly in Papandreou's blood-line. His father, Andreas, served as prime minister of Greece twice (1981-1989 and 1993-1996) and was known for his pro-Palestinian, anti- Israel leanings. Indeed, it took until 1992 for Greece – which chartered a pro-Arab foreign policy and was long considered the harshest of Israel’s critics in Europe – to even formally establish ties with Israel.

The good personal relationship between the two leaders came at a fortuitous time. It came when Israeli- Turkish ties were already in a tailspin and Jerusalem was looking for other allies in southern Europe to counterbalance Turkey.

It also came as Greece was looking to raise its diplomatic profile and attempt to be seen as a significant player in the region to help convince the international community to give it the economic assistance it sought. Furthermore, it came as Athens was keen on making inroads into the US Jewish community to both attract investors and win favor in Washington. The dramatic uptick in Greek-Israeli ties proved once again that old adage that in the Middle East, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Papandreou was one of the world leaders Netanyahu was closest with, and the relationship the two forged paid dividends for both countries. In the past two years, Athens has gone from one of the countries in Europe that were most critical of Israel, to one of the most supportive. Bilateral ties have flourished; trade is on the upswing; military ties are close (this week the Hellenic Air Force trained with the Israel Air Force in the Negev); bilateral ministerial visits are abundant; political cooperation is very close; and tourism to Greece is way up, as Israelis are avoiding Turkey.

When the Mount Carmel Forest fire struck last December, it was the Greeks who first answered Netanyahu’s call for assistance and dispatched fire-fighting planes that, according to Israeli officials, put out some two-thirds of the blaze. Netanyahu, for his part, has lobbied European leaders repeatedly over the past year to assist Greece economically, and Israel – to show its support – even extended a $100 million line of credit in September to Israeli businesses investing or trading with Greece.

Most important, it was the Greeks who put the kibosh on efforts in June to send a flotilla of some 15 ships to try and break the blockade of Gaza. Athens simply foiled the plans by barring the vessels from setting sail from Greek ports.

So when Papandreou stepped down last week, the question being asked in Jerusalem was, indeed, whether “Papandreouism” – that new Greek spirit toward Israel – would continue under the transitional government.

Israeli and Greek officials and academics alike are confident it will, saying that while a good personal chemistry between Papandreou and Netanyahu oiled the relationship, it was the interests of both countries that propelled it forward.

“The common interest between the two countries is very strong,” said Netanyahu’s spokesman Mark Regev. ‘These mutual interests are strong enough to keep the bilateral ties at the same level.”

Regev, who said the relationship between the leaders was “especially close” and that the two men spoke often by phone about a wide array of issues, added that while there was no doubt their friendship was important in pushing forward the bilateral relationship, “now that the cork is open, the wine is flowing and we believe it will continue to do so.”

Mekel, in a phone conversation from Athens, said the last year was an “unprecedentedly good year” in ties and the “best year ever for relations” between the two countries.

Mekel said much credit goes to the Greek government and Papandreou who initiated the moves with Netanyahu. But, he said, “the ties go beyond that and are ties between the governments’ leaders and the publics.”

Ticking off the name of one Greek minister after the next who has visited Israel over the last year, Mekel said Greek public opinion supports the improved relationship and that the Greek media has been very positive.

Papandreou, in a speech to parliament before he stepped down, termed the improved relationship with Israel one of his best achievements and called for it to be maintained.

Moreover, reading the writing on the wall, Israel cultivated ties over the last year with other members of Papandreou’s PASOK party as well as with the members of the opposition New Democracy party. These two parties, together with a small extreme right-wing party, now make up the transitional government under Lucas Papademos.

That government won an overwhelming vote in the Greek parliament on Wednesday, with 255 of the deputies voting confidence in Papademos, an economist who will focus on implementing the EUimposed austerity moves

The transitional government is backed by Papandreou’s PASOK party, which commands a majority in the 300-seat parliament, the main opposition conservative New Democracy party and the far-Right Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS).

And therein lies the rub. LAOS leader, Georgios Karatzaferis has made comments in the past denying the Holocaust, and newly appointed government minister of infrastructure, transport and networks, Makis Vorids, has questioned whether the infamous forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was in fact an authentic document. Jewish organizations such as the Anti- Defamation League and American Jewish Committee have called for Papademos to distance himself from the anti-Semitism of the party’s leaders.

Israeli officials suggested that the Greek government took this party into the coalition because it was trying to have as wide an appeal on the street as possible. Only the country’s Communist Party and the Coalition of the Radical Left refused to join the transitional government.

The officials said that most of the former PASOK ministers and deputy ministers will remain at their posts and that the New Democrat ministers who will take over at the defense ministry and foreign ministry are supportive of Athens’ pro-Israel orientation.

LAOS will have one minister in the government, two deputy ministers and two alternate ministers – not considered in Israel a strong enough presence to change the pro-Israel orientation.

That LAOS will play a minor role was echoed by Evangelos Venetis, a research fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy, an Athens-based think tank.

Venetis, who specializes in the Middle East, said that Karatzaferis is a “pragmatic and clever” politician who has supported the Greek-Israeli rapprochement because he agrees that these ties are in Greece’s interests. LAOS, Venetis said, will not throw a spanner in the ties.

Greek envoy to Tel Aviv Kyriakos Loukakis said “anti-Semitism always has and always will be condemned by the Greek governments because it is condemned by the Greek society. Anti-Semitism is completely alien to the history and values of the Greek people.”

The Greek ambassador, pointing out that new Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas told the parliament that enhancing relations with Israel was a strategic choice for the government and complimented the country's “multifaceted policy in the region,” said he was “certain Israeli-Greek ties and cooperation in all fields will continue to flourish” under the Papademos government.

Venetis agreed, explaining that on a strategic level, Greece “wants a partner in the region who can actually help the Greece and Cyprus defense environment with Turkey. Israel, for Greece, is a key partner – the only partner in the eastern Mediterranean – vis-a-vis Turkey.”

He said Athens wanted close collaboration with Israel for energy and defense reasons, as well as for security issues regarding Cyprus.

According to Venetis, while Papandreou’s role in the future government was still unclear, he was likely to have a behind-thescenes role – along with the new foreign minister – in preserving and promoting ties with Israel, especially since the transitional prime minister would be focused almost exclusively on economics until the next election in three months.

If that is indeed what emerges, then there will be smiles in Jerusalem, since a backroom foreign policy role for Papandreouism is good news for Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=246030





:) But lets talk about Greek food. Im getting an appetite! :) Don't you have a cool Greektown in your city? Run along now, spanikopita is healthy...and go easy on the gyros.

I was in an operating room today, watching a surgery being performed and I started talking to the surgeon. At first, I thought he was from South America (his accent sounded Argentinian), but then he told me that he was from Greece. It was quite interesting to meet a Greek Jew who had moved to Israel probably within the last 20-35 years (because I know, or think, that most Greek Jews who moved to ISrael came earlier).

^^ There is still a community in Greece. Small, but still vibrant. In the hey day there was a big number of Greek Jews, mainly in Salonika.... that dwindled after the Holocaust, Civil War and the former fascist regime(s)

I think one military area where Israel can help and counsel Greece is in streamlining the military. I personally have believed for some time that maintaining 3 armed forces branches for a country as small as Greece leads to unnecessary triplication (in terms of recruitment, basing etc) and fosters an inter service 'competition' for power, influence and resources.

I believe that unifying the armed services is a way to both lower costs and improve coordination.

Israel can be a blueprint as such.

do you guys still have conscription in Greece? :?

I know it was kinda of an experience for Greeks abroad (Australia, Canada, USA) to go to the Greek army for a year and serve the motherland......


btw....Greece...fatherland or motherland? :?

Yes of course there is conscription, though foreign residents I believe have measures to opt out if they qualify (costs $$ though).

I don't know about motherland or fatherland. That kinda stuff sounds dumb to be honest.

What do you greeks think of Greeks abroad? Im curious......
interesting abour conscription? So basically 18-19 you have to go to the army? :? and reserves?

Here is a salute to this thread and to Greek - Israeli cooperation!

The master of Greek - Jewish relations:

GEORGE MICHAEL!!!!

http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/music_images/george_michael_bbc_top_of_the_pops.jpg

Greek Father......Jewish Mother!!!!

Proof that Jewish blood doesn't automatically mean you'll be terrible at sport. :cheers:

http://www.ontennis.com/files/images/pete-sampras.jpg

One of my first...of many...heartbreaks came in high school...

to a Girl with a Greek father and a Jewish mother :(
she meant the world to me..........

I just wanted to play with her boobs!

Who can forget Jewish Greeks?
The King of them all...

Hank Azaria ....or better yet...Cheif Wiggum..or APUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

http://www.netbrawl.com/uploads/9a46c3b60c74d65c716cb2f9e49f281f.jpg

Proof that Jewish blood doesn't automatically mean you'll be terrible at sport. :cheers: Or Greek blood :lol:

Actually Pete Sampras is not Greek-Jewish like Hank Azaria, only partly Jewish on his father's side.

Early life and career
Pete Sampras was born in Potomac, Maryland, and is the third child of Sammy and Georgia Sampras. His mother immigrated from Sparta, Greece, and his father was born in the United States to a Greek father and a Jewish mother.[2][3] Greek culture played a big role in his upbringing.[3][4] Pete attended regular services of the Greek Orthodox Church on Sundays...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sampras

One thing for sure, he's one of the greatest tennis players ever, and one of the greatest athletes from America, if not the world, as well as a gentleman, a family man now and a philanthropist throughout his life.

I never knew about George Michael having Jewish ancestry and there's not much evidence of that online, but I did find this.

...Michael might seem like an unlikely champion of serious-mindedness. As the creative half of the gorgeously coiffed 1980s pop duo Wham! ("I don't know anything about haircuts, but I can blow dry hair brilliantly," he remarked with a laugh. "It's the Greek in me"), he was derided as the anti-punk, a decadent purveyor of meaningless fluff. Yet even as Wham! profited from hedonistic hits such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Michael practiced progressive politics; the group participated in the miner's strike benefits that were the left's cause célèbre (though they were criticized for lip-syncing) and Wham! was the first Western pop group to play in communist China.

This was the beginning of the public expression of that duality upon which Michael dwells. Its roots can be traced to his family life. His maternal grandmother was Jewish but married a Gentile and raised her children with no knowledge of their Semitic heritage. This was during World War II, and "she thought if they didn't know that their mother was Jewish, they wouldn't be at risk," Michael said. His mother was sent to convent school, effectively obliterating any traces of his grandmother's faith...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-georgemichael14-2008jun14,0,3920802.story

He's definitely one of the most famous pop-stars ever, if we like his music or not.

Wow I didn't know about Michael, Sampras and Azaria (one of my favourite dudes!).

http://strategyreports.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/2_yfeks_israil_b.jpg

Israeli Foreign ministery Dani Ayalon meeting with the new Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens (Nov 23).

I was curious to see the relationship and how it would continue sans Papandreou, and as the article on the other page said, it seems that some of the first contacts of the new PM/Cabinet were with the Israelis.

Further, the more the potential showdown with Iran looms, the more I think this new relationship is a good one. For whatever the prevailing opinions in Athens were/are, I doubt anyone wants to see a nuclear armed Iran.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/washington/20iran.html

The 2008 exercise 'Glorious Spartan' was believed by many to have been a dress rehearsal for any future operations against Iran's nuclear capability. Carried out over Crete its was interesting for many reasons:

-The distance from Israel to Crete is almost exactly the same as it is from Israel to Iran.
-It involved over 100 aircraft from Greece and Israel.
-Greece uses anti-aircraft systems which Iran does to (SA-15, S-300, SA-8) which provides a real opportunity for Israel to train against precisely the systems it would encounter in Iran.

With the loss of access to Turkish airspace for training, this role can be filled by Greece which has ample facilities and airspace. No doubt, especially given the current economic circumstances, the economic partnership between the two countries cannot be equal to the one Israel had with Turkey, but it has already paid off since Athens sent Nicosia to Tel Aviv for exploitation of the new gas field in the Cypriot EEZ.

And Greece helped make sure a Mavi Marmari 2 didn't happen which I'm sure the Israeli side really appreciated.

So the relationship has born fruit already. Here's hoping it continues.

btw....Greece...fatherland or motherland? :?
'fatherland' i believe, 'patrida' from 'pater' 'father'.

So they have a struggle? Like the Germans? Spaniards and Bulgarians?

Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture


Hi again my brothers!

skymantle this maybe help your relation of our countries

http://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Greek-Joseph-Yahuda/dp/0728900130

Europe is now not a continent with good economic prospects for the present.

Greece needs to look out into the world for new chances to progress in development and Israel is an obvious good partner in the region.

Israeli tourism to Greece would replace the loss of the Europeans, who are staying home due to their austerity.

The Greek islands can be the mass tourism all inclusive package destinations.

But what about going far away from mass tourism to authentic undiscovered mainland Greece and yet with easy access back to Athens airport via daily summer flights.

Koroni in southmost Peloponnese is a well kept secret by the Greeks, who themselves now have too much austerity to travel much in their own country.

Continued this year is the flight by Aegean Airlines from Athens (ATH) to Kalamata (KLX) every day for the summer til October. So a flight from Tel Aviv to Athens and then directly onto Kalamata is possible. Maniatis Travel (Pelops Car Hire) deliver / collect car hire from the airport, and Koroni is a quiet scenic 45 minute coastal drive from the airport nicely signposted in English as well as Greek, with plenty of stops to sip coffee by the beach en route and for day trips out from Koroni, of which there are plenty.

The troubles in central Athens do not affect Koroni, that is a quiet picturesque fishing village with its great Venetian castle over its harbourfront tavernas.

For more details please see my personal website www.anastasias-koroni-greece.co.uk
and link to pages on my Greek website for more photographs. There is a page made especially for Israel on my website named Flights from Israel, http://www.anastasias-koroni-greece.co.uk/#/flights-from-israel/4552609765

I will be there soon myself, as I am every year.

^^ It's always good to see people welcoming visitors to lovely Greek locations, but with only one post, your contribution seems more like advertising (spam) than anything else. Hope you will contribute further.


Latest news

Athens, J'lem announce joint diaspora conference

Unique conference to take place this summer; Greek deputy foreign minister key factor in vastly improved relations.

Greece and Israel announced Tuesday a unique diaspora conference, the brainchild of visiting Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitrios Dollis, to take place in Thessaloniki (Salonika) this summer.

The idea to discuss how Greece and Israel can strengthen their ties with their diaspora communities isn’t Dollis’s only brainchild – he is also widely credited with being a major force behind Athens’ dramatic realignment of its foreign policy toward Israel.

The Greek diplomat, who has an Australian accent, lived in Melbourne for 28 years and worked in Parliament, where current Prime Minister Julia Gillard served as his chief of staff.

“Dollis is one of Israel’s best friends in Greece,” said Aryeh Mekel, the envoy to Athens.

“He has been arguing for more than 20 years that Greece should get closer to Israel. He is a close associate of former prime minister [George] Papandreou, and was one of the architects of Greece’s decision to upgrade its relationship with Israel, which has only flourished since then.”

Dollis credits his time in Melbourne, where there are large Greek and Jewish communities that work closely on a number of issues, with planting in him the idea of Greek-Israeli cooperation.

“Our communities abroad have grown up together and cooperate, and it makes sense for us to do it here as well,” he said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.

Asked what took so long, Dollis replied, “Strange things happen, and strange things don’t happen.”

He said that Greece was preoccupied with everything else in the 1970s and 1980s: the country’s path to the EU, changes after the dictatorship.

“It doesn’t matter that it took so long,” he said of the dramatic warming of ties.

“What is important is that it taking place in truthful manner, with an emphasis on the long run, and not only on the present.”

Dollis returned to Greece in 1999 at a time when Papandreou, then foreign minister, was trying to get Greek expatriates to return to the country.

Dollis became one of his advisers. When Papandreou became prime minister in 2009, he named Dollis deputy foreign minister.

Papandreou, with Dollis advising him, made a historic visit to Israel in 2010, signaling the significant upgrade in ties. While this improvement in relations came as Israeli- Turkish ties were already in a tailspin, Dollis denied that this was part of the equation in improving ties with Israel.

“If we try to build relationships on something temporary, then the foundations would not be real,” he said.

Dollis admitted that some in the Arab world were surprised with the dramatic change in ties – there were nine Greek ministerial visits in 2011, contrasted with almost zero from 1991 to 2010 – but said he did not think the relationship cost Greece friendships elsewhere.

“You don’t lose friends by making new friends,” he said.

Dollis, explaining what Israel could provide Greece, mentioned the country’s expertise in agriculture, water management and technology.

He also said that there were tremendous opportunities for Israeli-Greek cooperation, along with Cyprus, in the energy sphere. With the huge discoveries in Israel’s territorial waters of natural gas, and significant discoveries off the coast of Cyprus as well, Greece is beginning the process of its own exploration efforts, and is interested in being an energy hub for Israeli and Cypriot gas exports to Europe.

“This offers huge opportunities,” Dollis said, adding that Greece could serve as a gateway to Europe. Concrete plans are premature to discuss, he added, since Israel has not yet determined whether it intended to export natural gas west to Europe, or east to Asia.

“We are developing plans to have Greece as a hub for energy distribution,” he said, adding that this was something Israel might take into consideration when considering its own plans.

Asked what Greece was interested in from Israel, the deputy foreign minister said investments. Paradoxically, according to Dollis, the deep economic crisis in Greece was opening up investment opportunities for foreigners, since one of the EU’s conditions for assisting the country is that it privatizes the economy.

This is leading to investment opportunities in a wide range of fields, from real estate to tourist development.

Dollis expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for extending a $100 million line of credit in September to Israeli businesses investing or trading with Greece.

As to what else Israel could do to help Greece overcome its present difficulties, Dollis said it was always good to have “friends speaking for you,” alluding to Israel’s ties with the US.

While acknowledging that Greece has very good ties with the US and does not need Israel as a channel to Washington, “it is always better to speak with more than one voice,” he said.

Regarding Iran, Dollis danced around the question about whether Athens was concerned about a possible Israeli strike, saying, “I have learned over the years not to worry about things that I don’t control.”

He acknowledged that Greece was hit hard by the EU decision to embargo Iranian oil, since over the past two to three years the country has become more dependent on Iran as a fuel source than other European countries because of its economic crisis.

Dollis said that Iran became a primary supplier of oil to Greece because it was willing to provide the best credit terms and lowest prices.

Even though Iran became the cheapest source of oil, and over the last two years has at times supplied some 50 percent of the country’s oil needs, Athens is now looking for alternative sources, primarily in Latin America and with the Saudis, Dollis said.

Greece is going along with the embargo decision regardless of the hardship, he stated, because there are some important decisions “you have to make,” and then figure out later ways to deal with their consequences.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=259813

Good to see!

happy xristos anesti! :)

Depressing photos from Greece. 51% youth unemployment. :ohno:

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/04/portraits-of-greece-in-crisis/100285/

^^ Sad. Hopefully better days ahead for the Greeks!

Not for a while. Misery loves company however and Greeks certainly won't be the only Europeans feeling the pinch in the coming years.