Meeting with Greek Cypriot leaders and Netanyahu’s ‘yogurt’ production infuriates Turkey

As Israel evaluates alternative routes, including Turkey, for natural gas exports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis and Southern Cyprus leader Nikos Christodoulidis in southern Cyprus yesterday to discuss the issue.

Following the meeting in which plans to transport Israeli natural gas to Europe via the Mediterranean were discussed, the three leaders appeared on camera for a joint press conference.

“We will have to decide soon how Israel will export its gas,” Netanyahu said in his speech. We are considering the possibility of collaborating on this issue. I think these decisions will be made in the next 3 to 6 months,” he stated.

‘WIN THE BEST’

Netanyahu also praised Greek cuisine and yogurt at the press conference.

“We love their food, their dairy. We love your yogurt,” the Israeli prime minister said, adding that they are ready to cooperate with Athens on food issues.

“We plan to open the dairy market to imports from Greece, Cyprus and other countries very soon,” Netanyahu said. May the best yogurt win. You have a good chance of winning,” he stated.

Like many common flavors in Greek and Turkish cuisine, yogurt is marketed as a Greek product in many parts of the world.