NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The Israeli prime minister on Sunday floated the idea of building infrastructure projects such as a fiber-optic cable connecting countries in Asia and the Arabian Peninsula to Europe via Israel and Cyprus.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “quite confident” that an infrastructure “corridor” linking Asia to Europe via Israel and Cyprus could be established.
He said that such projects could be implemented if Israel normalizes relations with other countries in the region. The US-brokered 2020 Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, and the Biden administration is trying to establish formal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“The most obvious example is fiber-optic connectivity. This is the shortest path. It is the safest path. It is the most economical path,” Netanyahu said after talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
The Israeli leader’s offer is itself an extension of proposed energy links with Cyprus and Greece as part of increased energy cooperation following the discovery of significant natural gas reserves in the economic zones of both Israel and Cyprus.
Netanyahu reiterated that he and Christodoulides look forward to pursuing plans for a 2,000 megawatt plant. Undersea power cable Known as the “EurAsia Interconnector” it connects Israel to Cyprus and Greece and is intended to serve as a backup source of energy supply for both Israel and Cyprus.
“You want to be connected to other sources of energy that can allow optimal use of force or give you strength when there is a failure in your country,” Netanyahu said. “This is something we are seriously discussing and hope to achieve.”
Another energy link involves a Cypriot proposal to build a power station Pipeline for transporting offshore natural gas From both Israel and Cyprus to the eastern Mediterranean island nation where it can be used as fuel for electricity generators or potentially liquefied for export by ship.
Christodoulides said that given Europe’s need to diversify energy sources in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Cyprus and Israel are looking to develop a “reliable energy corridor” linking the eastern Mediterranean basin to Europe through projects including gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas processing plants. .
Netanyahu said that his government fully supports the European decision to create a state Regional Fire Center In Cyprus where aircraft and other technology can be sent to help Extinguishing fires in neighboring countries.
“The climate is not going to get colder. It is going to get hotter. As our region and the world get warmer, fighting fires is really important. I think we can do it better together,” the Israeli leader said.
The talks between Christodoulides and Netanyahu come before a tripartite meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday.
Since 2016, such meetings between the leaders of the three countries have become a key component of what they said were thriving relations that Netanyahu described as a “deep friendship, personal, but also between our countries” that is “genuine” and “long overdue.” “
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