Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus has accused critics of running a “misleading campaign” that deliberately distorts his recent statement about antisemitic rhetoric on the island.
In a post on X, Ambassador Oren Anolik said the campaign misrepresents his Wednesday, 25 June statement, in which he condemned “specific antisemitic rhetoric used by a political party leader last weekend” whilst welcoming open dialogue about Israel.
The ambassador’s statement appears to reference remarks made by AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou at the party’s congress last week and in subsequent media interviews. In a radio interview with CyBC, Stefanou said there had been “an increased purchase of real estate, targeted purchases, and specifically in Limassol and in Larnaca…specific areas are being bought en masse, where there are created closed areas (gated communities) almost inaccessible to anyone other than Israeli nationals. Zionist schools are being built – that’s what they call them – synagogues are being built”.
Stefanou further stated that “this, in connection with various media reports appearing in serious newspapers in Israel itself, suggesting that Israel is preparing a ‘backyard’ in Cyprus…so this cannot but sound the alarm for us”. At the party congress, he urged the government “to protect our land, and ensure that Cyprus continues to belong to the Cypriots in perpetuity”, warning: “Unless we take effective measures now, at some point we will discover that our own land doesn’t belong to us”.
The Israeli diplomat emphasised these comments did not mention Gaza or Israeli government policy. “Instead, they singled out the Jewish community in Cyprus, attempting to instill fear and suspicion. That is antisemitic rethoric – plain and simple. This is what I condemned. Nothing more,” he stated.
Anolik clarified that criticism of Israeli government policy is not illegitimate, noting that “just like in any democracy, many Israelis themselves voice such criticism”.
“Since Hamas murderous attacks on October 7th, 2023, numerous statements in Cyprus have harshly criticized Israel, and I have never called them antisemitic, even if I completely disagree with what was said,” the ambassador stated.
He described disagreement and open public debate as “the lifeblood of a democratic society. But targeting a community based on their identity has no place in it”.
The ambassador urged the people of Cyprus not to be misled by the campaign. “I welcome open dialogue on Israel, but I will continue to speak out when Jewish communities are falsely accused and vilified. That is not criticism – that is hate,” he stated.
A misleading campaign is unfolding in Cyprus, deliberately distorting the clear statement I published on Wednesday (25/6).
— Oren Anolik 🇮🇱 (@OrenAnolik) June 28, 2025
In that statement, I condemned specific antisemitic rhetoric used by a political party leader last weekend.
He warned that Cyprus was being lost to…
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