Reporters United reveals closed-door meeting between Greek politicians and Israeli lobby

According to Reporters United, journalists present outside the venue identified ministers Adonis Georgiadis, Thanos Plevris, Niki Kerameus, Kostas Karagounis and Stavros Kalafatis, alongside New Democracy MPs Kostas Tsiaras, Andreas Nikolakopoulos, Dimitris Markopoulos and Diamantis Golidakis.

Also attending were PASOK MP Pavlos Christidis and independent MP Yiannis Kontis, who was elected on the ticket of the far-right Spartans party, as well as local government officials, business executives and other public figures.

The Israel Allies Foundation maintains close ties to Israel’s far right. Its founder, Benny Elon, advocated the annexation of Palestinian territories and the so-called ‘voluntary transfer’ of Palestinians from their homeland.

Israeli Technology Minister Gila Gamliel was also invited to the meeting. In October 2023, during her tenure as intelligence minister, her ministry produced a proposal for the forced displacement of 2.2 million Palestinians from Gaza.

Reporters United contacted the IAF requesting information about the composition of the proposed parliamentary caucus but received no response.

The day after the meeting, representatives of the Israeli organisation met in the Greek parliament with Kostas Tsiaras, identified as the caucus’s leader, alongside businesswoman Irene Karypidi.

According to Israeli publications cited in the investigation, the Greek parliament has established a parliamentary group supporting Israel. However, no official announcement has been issued by the Greek parliament.

New Left demands disclosure of meeting’s agenda and participants

The New Left called on the MPs involved to disclose what was discussed and clarify whether they intend to participate in the parliamentary group affiliated with the IAF.

The party described the organisation as a lobbying vehicle for Israel’s far right, arguing that its objectives, including the annexation of Palestinian territories and the displacement of Palestinians, contradict international law and UN resolutions.

It also pointed to information published on the IAF’s website identifying Kostas Tsiaras and Haris Theocharis as leading a group of Greek parliamentarians, without disclosing its full membership.

The New Left warned that participation in such an initiative raises serious political and diplomatic questions, particularly regarding Greece’s stated commitment to international law.

It demanded that the participating MPs disclose the meeting’s agenda and their intentions regarding the caucus, and called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis to clarify whether they knew about their parties’ MPs attending the meeting or the initiative to establish the parliamentary group.

Mera25: ‘They are turning the Greek parliament into an annex of the Israeli lobby’

Mera25 United Left also condemned the meeting, describing it as an attempt by the Israeli lobby to establish a mechanism of political influence within the Greek parliament.

‘Who authorised them to turn the Greek parliament into an office serving Israeli interests? And why are these plans being made behind closed doors?’ the party asked.

Mera25 linked the initiative to Greece’s military and economic cooperation with Israel, criticising the Mitsotakis government’s arms purchases from the Israeli defence industry and the growing presence of Israeli investment funds in the Greek property market.

It also condemned the government’s Golden Visa policy, arguing that it contributes to the country’s housing crisis.

The party demanded the immediate publication of the full list of meeting participants and those who had agreed to join the proposed parliamentary caucus, public explanations from all ministers and MPs involved, and clarification from parliament as to whether it had officially participated in or authorised the initiative.

Mera25 additionally called for an end to all military and economic cooperation with Israel.

‘The Greek parliament belongs to the Greek people. It cannot be handed over to foreign lobbies, offered to arms dealers or turned into a vehicle for whitewashing war crimes’, the party concluded.

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