The Eastern Mediterranean emerged in the last decade as a new focus of Israeli strategic interests. Traditionally, the region was an afterthought in Israeli thinking. It posed no major threat, nor did it hold a significant promise. However, this state of affairs saw a dramatic shift that accelerated in the last decade. The discovery of substantial gas depots in Israel�s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Israel�s newly acquired reliance on them for its energy needs turned Israeli attention West. Part of this turn to the sea includes a quasi-alliance with the Hellenic states (Greecce and Cyprus) and involvement in an ascent regional organization, the Cairo-based EastMed Gas Forum. With growing tensions between the Hellenic states and Turkey, the forum and the Israeli-Hellenic alliance may assume a more significant role. At a minimum, they offer European actors another framework to stabilize and possibly even benefit from the region.