Israel and Cyprus upgrade ties: Israel's navy and air force will be allowed to use Cypriot waters and airspace

Israel's Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu (L) meets with Cyprus' President Dimitris Christofias during a news conference at the presidential palace in Nicosia February 16, 2012. (Reuters Pictures)

(Globes) Israel and Cyprus signed an agreement today that will allow IDF planes and ships to use Cypriot airspace and territorial waters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Demetris Christofias signed what is called a search and rescue agreement in Nicosia today. Netanyahu was making the first ever visit of an Israeli prime minister to neighboring Cyprus.

Christofias condemned the terrorist attacks against Israeli embassies in India and Georgia, and he called on the EU to send a sharply worded message to Turkey in response to its threats to use all means if Cyprus distributed offshore oil and gas exploration licenses in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He added that he hopes that negotiations on energy projects would yield concrete proposals for collaboration.

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