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Israeli officials denied reports of establishing a joint military force with Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) against Türkiye, but senior Israeli sources confirmed to Israeli media outlet Ynet on Saturday that the political echelon has informed the military of such an intention and instructed preliminary planning to begin.
However, no practical steps have been taken, and the defense establishment is waiting for instructions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
"The political echelon has requested not to advance beyond the early planning stage for now," according to the report.
"Close cooperation yes, joint military force no," senior Israeli sources told Ynet, adding that establishing an "intervention force" is not on the table and will not be discussed at the trilateral summit scheduled for Monday (Dec. 22).
Netanyahu is set to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides on Monday, with security cooperation as the main agenda item, according to reports.
Israeli officials said the three parties are building a strategic "security wall" aimed at deterring Türkiye and preventing it from moving toward an openly hostile posture.
"Israel, Greece and Cyprus certainly want to increase military coordination between them, so that if — God forbid — there is a need, they will know what to do. The main goal here is deterrence," Israeli sources said.
Israeli officials view Türkiye as a "regional rival, not yet an enemy," and say their aim is to prevent further escalation.
A senior Israeli official involved in Israel-Greece relations said, "The level of cooperation between Israel and Greece has been very high over the years. This is an intimate dialogue, joint exercises. About 40 joint exercises, trainings and information-sharing meetings take place between Greece and Israel every year."
"There is always room to expand and deepen, but what was published in Greece about a rapid reaction force does not exist, and the feasibility of establishing such a force is not possible," the Israeli official added.
"I don't see Greek soldiers coming to defend Israel and Israeli soldiers going to defend Greece. What there is, is cooperation that gives one side or another advantages," a senior Israeli official said.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler recently dismissed the cooperation at an annual evaluation meeting in Ankara.
"Greece, Israel and Greek Cyprus coming together and signing agreements cannot pose a threat to us. We also sign agreements with many countries, but we do not make these agreements against a specific country," Guler said.
Guler noted reports that air defense systems purchased from Israel would be deployed on demilitarized islands, saying, "These are 'demilitarized islands' by name — islands that legally should not be armed. We are doing the necessary work on this issue. They should not be too enthusiastic."
"Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced a 2030 projection. They are saying, 'let's conscript women too.' Almost no one is applying to the Greek Land and Naval Forces. Personnel procurement is a major problem for them," he concluded.
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