Alexis Tsipras. Photo: President of the Russian Federation.

Alexis Tsipras

President of Greece

When Alexis Tsipras became president of Greece, many Israelis viewed his pro-Palestinian Syriza party skeptically at best.

Yet since then, Tsipras has warmed up to the Jewish state.

In late 2015, 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.” Many countries refuse to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, much to Israel’s displeasure.

Earlier this year, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek premier announced that the three nations would work together to determine how to lay a pipeline between the three countries in order to export gas to Europe.

Netanyahu also spoke of another plan to connect the electric grids of all three countries. Tsipras added that cooperation with Israel and Cyprus was a “strategic choice” for Greece.