Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accompanied by nine ministers will visit Israel on Wednesday to participate in a broad bilateral meeting between Greece and Israel aiming at the promotion of the two countries’ cooperation.

Tsipras’ visit to Israel and to Cyprus on Thursday for the trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting is part of a wider Greek diplomatic initiative aiming to upgrade the cooperation with the countries of the eastern Mediterrenean, said government sources. Moreover, the meetings will give the opportunity to talk about safety issues.

According to sources, PM Tsipras and Benjamin Netanahu will sign 10 agreements on the cooperation of the two countries in a series of sectors, including innovation and education.

The two prime ministers will meet privately in Jerusalem and the High Cooperation Council Greece-Israel meeting is expected to start at 16:30. The signing ceremony will be held at 18:00 and a press conference will follow.

The meeting will close with a working dinner and afterwards the Greek prime minister will leave for Cyprus in order to participate in a broad Greece-Cyprus meeting followed by a trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting.

Mr. Tsipras will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Alternate Minister of Citizen Protection Nikos Toskas, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, Shipping Minister Thodoris Dritsas , Alternate Minister for Research Costas Fotakis, State Minister Nikos Pappas, government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili, Infrastructure, Trasport and Networks Minister Christos Spirtzis, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas.

Moreover, Mr. Mardas will also visit the Palestinian territory and hold talks with members of the Palestinian authority.