The Greek-Israeli strategic relationship that was cemented through the meeting between PMs Antonis Samaras and Binyamin Netanyahu last October and the signing of more than ten agreements is being further augmented through a two day visit by Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Liebermann to Athens.

All of article 19 of the immigration bill that has sown controversy since Wednesday has been withdrawn. The article will be tendered again next week after it is fully revised.

Tensions ran high today in downtown Athens, as school teachers protesting proposed layoffs, in a surprise move stormed the personal offices of government reform minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The office is housed on the fifth floor of an apartment building on 8 Efroniou Street, and the demonstrating teachers have actually taken over the building.