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Israel appears to be backing away from a major energy project that was once seen as a symbol of Mediterranean cooperation, focusing instead on a smaller-scale power connection with Cyprus alone.
During a recent visit to Israel by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Israeli officials made no mention of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel (GSI) electricity interconnection project, according to Kathimerini's Apostolos Tomaras. That omission came as a surprise to many, as the GSI plan had been a high-profile trilateral effort aimed at connecting the region to Europe’s power grid and boosting energy security.
Instead, discussions centered on a more limited plan, a direct electricity cable between Cyprus and Israel. That leg of the project is already backed by the European Union with €657 million in funding and has been listed among its “Projects of Common Interest.”
Analysts say the shift in tone may reflect Israel’s alignment with the U.S.-supported India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a broader infrastructure plan meant to enhance trade and energy ties between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Some believe the U.S. now views IMEC as more practical than earlier plans like GSI or the EastMed gas pipeline, which also saw a drop in momentum in recent years.
The absence of Greece from the discussion suggests a potential split in what was once a united energy strategy among the three countries. Cypriot officials are privately concerned that without Greece in the picture, the cable from Cyprus to Israel may no longer help solve one of the island’s biggest challenges, its isolation from Europe’s power grid.
“If Israel’s commitment stops at Cyprus, then we risk staying cut off,” one Cypriot government source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the talks.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office later confirmed that its priority is now the third phase of the electricity interconnection, the Israel-Cyprus link, with no mention of Greece.
Meanwhile, in Athens, government officials insist the Cyprus-to-Crete section of the cable will still go ahead. But delays in exploration along the Crete-Cyprus seabed have already raised doubts, and Israel’s apparent shift may complicate funding and momentum.
The GSI project, once a flagship effort backed by political leaders across the region, now faces an uncertain future. If it unravels, experts warn the consequences will be felt not only in energy planning but also in the wider geopolitical balance of the Eastern Mediterranean.
