NICOSIA, Cyprus — Israel is inching closer to finalizing plans for exporting natural gas to Europe, with a decision on transportation route expected within the next three to six months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday after meeting with his Greek and Cypriot counterparts.
Nicosia has pressed Israel to come to a deal and Netanyahu said the Greeks and Cypriots favor a shortened pipeline that would pump gas from Israel to a liquefaction terminal in Cyprus, from where it would then be shipped onward to Europe.
The proposed terminal is an alternative to the American-backed Eastern Mediterranean pipeline, which would send gas from Israel to Cyprus and then to Greece.
Israel is also still actively considering a pipeline to Turkey and has considered building its own floating liquefaction facility.
Speaking alongside Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a joint press conference, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said “our partnership is not exclusive or directed against any other country,” in an apparent reference to Turkey.
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