ATHENS: Greece on Thursday published a series of historical maps looking to refute Turkish accusations that Athens is violating peace treaties that followed World War I and World War II.
Turkish authorities say the Greeks have stationed troops on Aegean islands in violation of the peace treaties that followed the two 20th century conflicts.
Athens counters that the troops are stationed in response to the presence of Turkish military units, aircraft and landing craft on the opposite coast, in addition to Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
The Greek foreign ministry published maps going back to 1923 which it said depict “in a vivid and irrefutable way the Turkish illegal unilateral actions and claims.”
The maps “document the extent of Turkish revisionism in order to upend the status quo, violating international law... and threatening peace, security and stability in our region,” it said.
The two uneasy NATO neighbors have long feuded over maritime borders and energy exploration rights in disputed parts of the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
Facing re-election next year amid rampant inflation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly attacked Greece over the islands and has said he would no longer meet Greek leaders.
“Come to your senses,” Erdogan said on Thursday in another shot at Greece.
“You should disarm the islands. I am not joking,” he said.
On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara would challenge Greece’s sovereignty over the islands if it continued to send troops there.
Greece hits back at Turkish claims in Aegean Sea
https://arab.news/p6f5b
Greece hits back at Turkish claims in Aegean Sea
- Turkish authorities say the Greeks have stationed troops on Aegean islands
- Athens counters that the troops are stationed in response to the presence of Turkish military units
Israel’s main airport receives passenger boost from Gaza ceasefire
- Separately, Israel’s Statistics Bureau said tourist numbers to Israel rose 38 percent in 2025 to 1.34 million, but remained below the 2023 level of 3.24 million
- Israeli strikes since the deal was struck have killed more than 400 Palestinians — most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials — and Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers
JERUSALEM: Passenger traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv rose 33 percent in 2025, the Israel Airports Authority reported on Tuesday, reflecting the return of foreign carriers after many airlines halted flights during the two-year Gaza war.
A US-brokered ceasefire in October gave way to the resumption of flights to Israel by carriers who had not yet resumed routes to Tel Aviv. In December, the number of passengers rose 59 percent.
In all of 2025, passenger traffic at Israel’s main air gateway Ben Gurion reached 18.5 million, versus 13.9 million in 2024. The airport handled 21.8 million people in 2023, the year war broke out after the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines, which did not halt flights during the war other than last June during a 12-day conflict with Iran, showed a 5 percent annual gain to 6.9 million passengers, though its market share slipped to 37 percent from 48 percent.
El Al has posted steep gains in revenue and profit as a result of the conflict, in which just a handful of carriers were operating.
Smaller rivals Israir, with an 11 percent market share, and Arkia at 9 percent followed El Al.
Wizz Air was the largest foreign carrier in Israel with 1.23 million passengers — double its 2024 level — for a 7 percent market share. Wizz is seeking to establish a hub in Israel.
Aegean, flydubai, Etihad, Lufthansa and United also posted large gains in the number of passengers last year.
Separately, Israel’s Statistics Bureau said tourist numbers to Israel rose 38 percent in 2025 to 1.34 million, but remained below the 2023 level of 3.24 million. Outgoing tourism by Israelis grew 33 percent to 9.42 million last year.
The Gaza war broke out in October 2023. While the ceasefire halted most fighting, it has not stopped entirely.
Israeli strikes since the deal was struck have killed more than 400 Palestinians — most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials — and Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Both sides have accused one another of violating the deal’s provisions.
