Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli met with Cyprus Jewish community leaders on Wednesday to discuss security concerns and diplomatic cooperation.
A press release by the office of Chief Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin said the meeting focused on antisemitism in the region and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Cyprus and Israel.
The announcement noted that there are an estimated 4,000 Jewish families now residing in Cyprus, as the community has experienced substantial growth over the past two decades. Major immigration waves included 70 families in 2003 and 500 before the COVID-19 pandemic, the announcement said. A further 1,000 families arrived following changes to the Cypriot legal system, with numbers increasing further during and after October 7, the press release said.
“During the meeting, the dialogue emphasised the importance of fostering a safe and thriving environment for the Jewish community while strengthening the longstanding relationship between Cyprus and Israel,” the announcement said.
On January 26, anti-Israeli slogans were found spray-painted across several areas of Larnaca. The graffitis sparked a reaction by the local Jewish community and from the the European Jewish Association (EJA), which spoke of antisemitism.
Larnaca property sector stakeholders have said that locals are being priced out of the housing and rental markets due to heightened interest from Israeli investors.
The incident coincided with a decision to redirect Israeli airline flights from Paphos to Larnaca citing security concerns.
