The True Face of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras: Meets up with Netanyahu, Endorses Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

In-depth Report:

Alexis Tsipras who led the “left wing” SYRIZA movement against neoliberalism has revealed his true face in his recent visit to Israel.

He has joined the pro-Israeli EU political bandwagon, which pays lip service to Netanyahu.

As we recall Syriza confirmed as part of its election platform its endorsement of the rights of Palestinians against the State of Israel.

“About-turn” in Greece’s foreign policy in relation to Israel?

A recent Israeli report by Israel’s I24news TV reviews PM Tsipras’ visit to Israel (click to see complete TV report):

Meeting with the Israeli leadership, opening a two day tour in Jerusalem and Ramallah, Tzipras praised the importance of the relations between Israel and Greece and showed that the partnership has survived the political change.

While in Jerusalem for a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Tsipras took an opportunity to sign the President’s guestbook, writing, “ With great honor to be in your historic capital and to meet your excellencies.”

Because of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and dispute over Jerusalem, many countries refuse to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, much to Israel’s displeasure.

A former Israeli diplomatic official said that Tzipras’ reference to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was “unprecedented, especially for a European leader.”

Tal Shalev/ i24news

Tal Shalev/ i24news
“Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras signed President RIvlin’s guest book”

During talks with Rivlin, Tsipras also addressed the global rise in terrorism saying “in the wake of European terror, we must send a message from here in Jerusalem that cooperation can banish extremism and hatred.” (emphasis added)

The issue of Israel’s State supported terrorism against Palestine was not mentioned.

Rivlin responded saying, “ISIS is not only in Syria and Iraq, but spreading to the whole western world, who must take responsibility and say that we cannot live in a world in which ISIS exists.”

In a press conference following the meeting between the two leaders Netanyahu said, “we have a growing and enduring partnership between Greece and Israel. We are two countries with ancient roots.”

Tsipras echoed Netanyahu’s sentiments and addressed additional topics important to both nations.

“There is, as you said, a natural affinity between the Israelis and the Greeks. It’s very obvious when you go to either country,” Netanyahu said to Tsipras.

(Tal Shalev,  diplomatic correspondent of i24news, i24news, November 26, 2015)

Alexis Tsipras has a short memory. He remains mum on the issue of Israeli crimes against humanity. He tacitly endorses Netanyahu’s stance which casually equates the Palestinians with terrorists. He endorses Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

According to the i24news report: “If Jerusalem had any concerns about the the Left-wing Syrizan regime, Tzipras’ smiles appear to indicate there is no need to worry”. (emphasis added). According to WSWS analyst Jean Shaoul:

Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu is using the terrorist attacks in Paris to ramp up tensions in pursuit of Israel’s geostrategic interests.

“Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with France in the battle against radical Islam,” he declared in the aftermath of Friday’s killings. “All terrorism must be condemned and fought equally with unwavering determination. It’s only with this moral clarity that the forces of civilization will defeat the savagery of terrorism.”

Netanyahu is once again seeking to equate the Palestinians with terrorism. This, after all, is the man who said, following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001, that the attack was “very good” because it would “generate immediate sympathy” for Israel and its war against the Palestinians. (Jean Shaoul, WSWS and Global Research, November 18, 2015)

Since the beginning of October, Israeli forces have killed 101 Palestians in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. In the period between Thursday October 1st and Thursday November 26th, 2015, as confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry.  This was not the work of ISIS, which so happens to be supported by Israel, it was carried out on the orders of the Netanyahu government and implemented by Israeli security forces.  


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About the author:

Michel Chossudovsky is an award-winning author, Professor of Economics (emeritus) at the University of Ottawa, Founder and Director of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG), Montreal, Editor of Global Research. He has taught as visiting professor in Western Europe, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. He has served as economic adviser to governments of developing countries and has acted as a consultant for several international organizations. He is the author of 13 books. He is a contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His writings have been published in more than twenty languages. In 2014, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit of the Republic of Serbia for his writings on NATO's war of aggression against Yugoslavia. He can be reached at [email protected]

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