The Mare Med III Conference isn’t just another business summit. It’s a high-stakes, invitation-only gathering where Israel’s political and military elite rub shoulders with Greek and Cypriot officials, far from the prying eyes of the press. This year’s edition, held May 12-13 in Athens, was a masterclass in quiet diplomacy—one where the words “Palestine” and “Palestinians” were conspicuously absent, and where a Cypriot politician openly endorsed Israel’s regional war plans, even as they risked igniting a broader conflict. What unfolded in those hotel rooms wasn’t just policy talk; it was a blueprint for deepening an alliance that could reshape the Mediterranean’s geopolitical landscape.
Archyde’s reporting reveals how Greece and Cyprus are accelerating their alignment with Israel, not just in trade or defense contracts, but in a strategic embrace that sidesteps international scrutiny. The stakes? Higher for regional stability than ever before.
Why This Matters Now: The Unspoken Rules of Mediterranean Power
The Mare Med III Conference is Israel’s annual playbook for winning over its southern neighbors. Organized by Benny Moran Productions, a firm with deep ties to Israel’s defense and intelligence communities, the event is a who’s who of decision-makers: Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, executives from Israel Aerospace Industries, and Greece’s Defense Ministry brass. But the real story isn’t in the agenda—it’s in what’s left unsaid.
Independent journalist Dimitri Lascaris, who infiltrated the event, described it as “utterly nauseating.” His footage captured a chilling moment: a Cypriot politician, addressing the Israeli ambassador in the front row, declaring, *”Yes, it’s going to cause a lot of suffering. We know it’s going to cause a lot of suffering, but you’ve got to finish the job.”* The target? Iran. The implication? A green light for escalation.
This isn’t the first time Greece and Cyprus have signaled their support for Israel’s regional ambitions. In 2023, Athens signed a $2.5 billion defense pact with Israel, and Cyprus has quietly become a hub for Israeli cybersecurity firms. But Mare Med III is where the rubber meets the road—where backroom deals are sealed, and where the human cost of these alliances is conveniently ignored.
The Information Gap: Who’s Really Calling the Shots?
The official narrative frames Mare Med III as a “business conference.” But the guest list tells a different story. Among the attendees:
- Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, whose portfolio includes ties to Greek and Cypriot officials.
- Retired Israeli military officers now leading defense contractors, including Israel Shipyards, which has won contracts in both countries.
- Greece’s Tourism Minister, a surprising but strategic inclusion—soft power is just as critical as hard power in this alliance.
What’s missing? Any acknowledgment of the Palestinian question. As Lascaris noted, not a single speaker mentioned Gaza, the West Bank, or the plight of Palestinian civilians. This isn’t oversight—it’s a calculated omission. Greece and Cyprus are betting that by ignoring the humanitarian crisis, they can avoid backlash from the EU and the U.S., both of which have grown increasingly critical of Israel’s actions.
But the risks are mounting. *”The Greek government’s stance on Israel is a balancing act,”* says Dr. Evangelos Kofos, a senior fellow at the Elias Institute. *”They need Israel’s military technology, but they also rely on EU funding. The longer this goes on, the harder it becomes to justify.”*
Meanwhile, Cyprus—already a key player in Israeli energy projects like the EastMed pipeline—is deepening its ties with Israel’s cybersecurity sector. The message is clear: economic and military cooperation are taking precedence over moral considerations.
The Winners and Losers in This Quiet War
Who benefits from this alliance? The obvious winners are Israel’s defense and tech industries, which stand to gain billions in contracts. Greece and Cyprus, meanwhile, secure advanced military hardware and economic partnerships that could boost their struggling economies. But the losers? The Palestinian people, whose suffering is treated as collateral damage.
*”This isn’t just about trade,”* warns Dr. Niki Kitsantonis, a Cypriot political scientist at the University of Nicosia. *”It’s about geopolitical positioning. By aligning with Israel, Greece and Cyprus are sending a signal: we’re not part of the problem, but we’re not part of the solution either.”*
The ripple effects are already being felt. Turkey, a NATO ally and regional rival, has condemned Greece’s defense deals with Israel as a threat to stability. Meanwhile, Arab states like Egypt and Jordan—traditional mediators—are growing impatient with Greece and Cyprus’s silence on Palestine.
And then there’s the EU. Brussels has been increasingly vocal about Israel’s actions in Gaza, but so far, Greece and Cyprus have managed to avoid direct criticism. That could change if the situation in the region deteriorates further.
The Human Cost: What’s Not Being Said
The most striking omission from Mare Med III wasn’t just the absence of Palestinian voices—it was the complete erasure of their existence. When a Cypriot politician urged Israel to “finish the job” in Iran, he wasn’t just talking about military strategy. He was endorsing a policy that could drag the entire region into chaos.
*”The Greek and Cypriot governments are playing a dangerous game,”* says Lascaris. *”They’re betting that by staying silent, they can avoid backlash. But silence isn’t neutrality—it’s complicity.”*
This isn’t the first time Greece and Cyprus have walked this tightrope. In 2021, Athens blocked a UN resolution criticizing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Cyprus, meanwhile, has hosted Israeli officials while maintaining diplomatic ties with Arab states—a delicate balancing act that’s growing harder to maintain.
But the real test will come if Israel escalates its conflict with Iran. With Greece and Cyprus providing military and economic support, the fallout could be catastrophic—not just for the region, but for their own reputations.
The Takeaway: What’s Next for the Mediterranean?
Mare Med III wasn’t just a conference. It was a turning point. Greece and Cyprus are doubling down on Israel, but the question is: at what cost?
For now, the alliance holds. But as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens and tensions with Turkey and Iran rise, the risks of this strategy are becoming clearer. The winners today—Israel’s defense industry, Greek and Cypriot officials—may not be the winners tomorrow.
So here’s the question for you: How long can silence be sustained before it becomes complicity? And more importantly—who will be held accountable when the consequences finally catch up?
