Key facts
- Israel issued a warning to its citizens in Greece to avoid displaying their nationality publicly.
- Public anger in Greece stems from rising rents, perceived Israeli insensitivity to pro-Palestinian protests, and government arms purchases.
- A significant majority of Greeks (65%) oppose the partnership with Israel, according to a 2026 Pew Research poll.
- Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Greece are substantially larger than pro-Israeli ones.
- Greece and Israel have developed a broad strategic relationship centered on military cooperation, intelligence, and regional positioning.
Israel's relationship with Greece, once considered a close alliance, is increasingly strained by domestic opposition within Greece. Concerns over rising rents, attributed by many Greeks to Israeli property purchases, coupled with anger over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Greece's procurement of Israeli arms and surveillance technology, are fueling public discontent. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Greece are significantly larger than pro-Israeli ones, reflecting a growing sentiment against the partnership.
This backlash is impacting Israelis who previously viewed Greece as an attractive destination. Nearly 100,000 Israelis left their country in 2025, citing missile threats and high living costs. The historical context of the Greece-Israel relationship shows a shift from discreet military cooperation to a broader strategic partnership, particularly after the discovery of gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean and deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey.
Cooperation has expanded to include energy infrastructure, such as connecting electricity grids and developing natural gas reserves, as well as joint military training and intelligence sharing. This partnership provides Israel with access to the European Union and allows its forces to simulate operations in terrain similar to regional adversaries. The relationship has evolved significantly since a key meeting between the Greek and Israeli prime ministers in 2010, building on earlier, more discreet military ties.