Israel returns 22 stolen ancient artefacts to Greece | Arts and Culture News
Israel Returns 22 Ancient Artefacts to Greece Amid Strengthening Ties
Published on October 14, 2026
Israel has returned 22 ancient artefacts that were removed from Greece, marking a significant step in the cultural exchange between the two nations, which have been strengthening their diplomatic and economic ties.
Details regarding the recovery of the artefacts and the circumstances surrounding their initial theft from Greece were not disclosed by officials from either country. The Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit was instrumental in locating the items, according to Pninat Yanay, Israel’s ambassador to Greece.
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni accepted the artefacts during a ceremony at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. This marks the first instance of Israel returning antiquities to Greece. Mendoni emphasized the importance of this act, stating, “Every return of a cultural object to its place of origin has a broader symbolic and moral dimension.”
The returned collection comprises 15 Attic vases, six Corinthian vases, and a bronze statuette of a female figure, all dated between 700 BC and 320 BC. Yanay noted that this exchange lays the groundwork for deeper collaboration between Greece and Israel on the protection of cultural heritage.
In recent years, Greece and Israel have also enhanced their cooperation in the energy and defense sectors. In August, Israel signed a $3.5 billion defense agreement to develop a multi-layered air defense system in Greece, named the Achilles Shield. This represents the largest defense deal between the two nations and one of the most significant export agreements in Israel’s contemporary history.
