Athens, Greece - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece in the capital, Athens, on Monday, amid criticism from left-wing groups and others.

Rivlin arrived in Athens on Sunday for a three-day visit, during which he will also meet members of the local Jewish community and travel with Tsipras to the northern coastal city of Thessaloniki.

Speaking to the Greek daily Ekathimerini, Rivlin described ties between Greece and Israel as "fruitful and strong".

"Today, we are neighbours on the Mediterranean," Rivlin said.

"We share opportunities, and we also share threats. Both our peoples have felt the earthquakes of the instability in the Middle East," he continued, adding that the two countries "have a duty to stand together and face these challenges".

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