Cyprus - The Cypriot government denounced the deal, and tried to rally other countries in the region to oppose its maritime borders aspect.[11] Egypt - The Egyptian government, an ally of the Tobruk government, denounced the Turkish-GNA maritime and military deal[12], foreign minister Sameh Shoukry blasting it as "illegal" in a joint statement on December 5 with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.[13] France - French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian denounced the deal between Ankara and Tripoli in a joint statement with Egypt's foreign minister.[13] Greece - Greece expelled the Libyan ambassador from Athens, sent two letters of protest to the United Nations over the aspect of maritime borders in the deal, which Greece viewed as infringing on its own sovereignty and endangering regional stability.[14] Israel - Acting foreign minister Israel Katz announced Israel's opposition to the maritime border accord between Ankara and Tripoli, and confirmed that the deal was "illegal" according to the Israeli official position, while at the same time noting that Israel does not want a conflict with Turkey.[15] Earlier in the month, the Turkish navy had driven out an Israeli oceanographic research vessel that had been operating with the consent of the Cypriot government in Cypriot waters,[16]. This act, in the context of the deal with the GNA, led to Israeli fears that Turkey aimed to "create a sea border the width of the entire Mediterranean" and cut off Israeli access to international waters via the Mediterranean sea, the channel of 99% of Israeli exports.[17] Energy expert Brenda Schaffer interprets the EastMed pipeline between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece (forecasted to be able to cater to 10% of Europe's gas needs, and decrease reliance on Russia) as a joint attempt to exclude Turkey from the "Club Med" gas club.[18], but the decision to sign the deal was stated to be a response to the Turkish-Libyan deal.[19] Tunisia - Tunisia rejected the request of Turkey to use its territory for military shipments.[20]