TEL AVIV — Cyprus and Israel are working to finalize a long-pending agreement on the Aphrodite and Ishai gas fields by November, Cypriot Energy Minister George Papanastasiou said following talks with his Israeli counterpart.
The two fields have remained unresolved for more than a decade, Papanastasiou noted, but both sides are now pushing to reach a settlement.
During the meeting in Tel Aviv, the ministers also discussed the GSI (Green Stream Interconnector) electricity cable project. Papanastasiou said Israel reaffirmed its interest in joining the initiative and expressed a desire to expedite the Cyprus–Israel segment of the cable.
While Israeli officials have raised concerns about the project’s cost, Papanastasiou emphasized that both countries agree on the urgency of establishing the energy link.
He added that Israel’s broader goal is to connect to a larger regional energy network. However, if geopolitical, technical or financial constraints prevent that, Israel remains committed to a direct connection with Cyprus, citing energy security and mutual benefit.