Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will visit Israel and Palestine to hold bilateral talks and strengthen Greece’s mediatory role in the region at a ver crucial time for the Middle East.

During his trip, Greek PM will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin and other officials. Government sources say that the visit aims to broaden the financial cooperation between Israel and Greece, particularly in the sectors of energy (distribution of natural gas, management of water sources), tourism and technology. Tsipras will be accompanied by a delegation and hopes to lay the groundwork for a trilateral meeting between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. The negotiation will focus on the prevailing conditions in the wider region.

On Thursday, Tsipras heads to Palestine for meetings with Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas. Sources said that the meeting will serve to renew the traditionally warm relations between the Greek and Palestine while contributing to the upgrading of Greece’s relations with the Arabic World. The talks are also expected to focus on the cooperation at interministerial level. Also scheduled is a visit by the Greek delegation to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Tsipras will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, Transport and Networks Minister Christos Spirtzis, State Minister Nikos Pappas, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis and government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili.