Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz held a meeting with Greek and Cypriot defense ministries along the sidelines of the Economist Government Roundtable conference in Greece.

Gantz claimed that he discussed "challenges of mutual interest in the [Eastern Mediterranean] and areas of collaboration that are vital for the protection of our citizens and for peace and stability in the region" with Cyprus' Defense Minister Charalambos Petrides.

Gantz also said he spoke with Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, the Greek Defense Minister, after their meeting about "growing collaboration between the [country'] military industry, as well as extra difficulties we are facing, mainly the Iranian threat."

Last March, an Israeli official made the suggestion of buying uninhabited islands in Greece to evacuate Israeli settlers in the event of crisis or war, per Israeli media.

The proposal came amid Israeli and US concerns regarding Iran's growing missile and UAV capabilities as the US CENTCOM chief General Kenneth McKenzie recently said the Islamic Republic had more than 3,000 ballistic missiles.

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