Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik has issued a condemnation of what he describes as “untypical antisemitic rhetoric” emerging in public discourse in Cyprus, warning that such language threatens the democratic foundations of the Republic.
In a statement released today, Ambassador Anolik expressed “deep concern and serious apprehension” about rhetoric that he claims revives “dark patterns from the past” including collective accusations, conspiratorial claims, and masked ethnic scapegoating.
The ambassador drew parallels to historical antisemitism, stating the current discourse “echoes the rhetoric that once led Europe into its darkest chapter.”
The Israeli diplomat argued that whilst diplomats are typically trained to avoid involvement in domestic debates, there are moments when silence can be “misunderstood and even misused.” He justified his intervention by stating that when “a line is crossed, when a community is targeted, when a shared value is under threat — we must speak.”
Ambassador Anolik specifically criticised what he termed the “obsessive ongoing spread of made-up stories” about Zionist plans, buyouts, and ghettos, describing such narratives as “hate speech” rather than legitimate political opinion. He argued that the distortion of reality to undermine an entire ethnic or religious group represents a threat to social cohesion and democratic stability.
Anolik stressed that combating antisemitism requires “political vigilance and moral responsibility,” calling for antisemitism to be rejected “without footnotes or excuses” whenever it appears, even in disguise. He declared that “antisemitism, in all its forms, has no place in public life.”
The ambassador reaffirmed the relationship between Cyprus and Israel, describing it as “a deep and enduring friendship” rooted in shared democratic values, mutual respect, and growing ties between both peoples. He argued that this relationship thrives on openness, dialogue, and commitment to pluralism, with its strength threatened not by diversity of opinion but by “hate and prejudice.”
The statement concluded with recognition and thanks to “many Cypriot voices” who have spoken out against the phenomenon, whilst calling on all responsible voices in public life to reject “the language of antisemitism, fear mongering and collective demonisation — clearly, firmly, and without ambiguity.”
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