Just before Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid sets out to his first European visit, and in the context of the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon over the sea borders between the two countries, 13 ambassadors from leading European countries -- including Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, and of the European Union -- went on a special briefing tour of Israel's northern sea border with Lebanon to discuss opportunities and threats, as well as gas reservoirs in the eastern Mediterranean.
 
The strategic tour, initiated and carried out by non-profit non-governmental organization ELNET in cooperation with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), allowed European representatives in Israel to experience first-hand the complexity of the maritime border as well as the opportunities and mutual interests at hand. The delegation discussed the opportunities for closer European-Israeli cooperation in the field of gas and energy, including the underwater EastMed gas pipeline -- a project currently explored by Israel and its partners in the EU, which might allow for Israel to export its gas to Europe via Greece.
 
Following security briefing by the Israeli Navy aboard Navy vessels, and strategic and economic discussions with representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the ambassadors flew out to visit the Leviathan gas platform.
 
Shai Bazak, ELNET-Israel CEO, leading the delegation, said: "The strategic tour well reflects the strengthening relations between Europe and Israel. With the ongoing negotiations on Israel's maritime border with Lebanon, it is imperative that Europe acknowledges the economic opportunities at hand in the region. There is more and more interconnectivity between Europe and Israel regarding energy. Israel is also now working to be soon connected to the European electricity grid. This means that Israel's energy and maritime security, including gas infrastructure, is of strategic importance to Europe now as well. We are much encouraged by the great attendance from European diplomats to experience first-hand the situation on the ground, and we at ELNET continue to further promote and deepen the Israel-Europe relationship and dialogue."