Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, has urged political leaders and the public to reject divisive language over the presence of Israelis and their investments on the island, as public debate continues over Israeli-linked property activity in Cyprus.
In a written statement, Anolik said relations between Israel and Cyprus are based on shared values, mutual respect and strong friendship.
“Recently, we have observed voices attempting to portray Israeli investments and presence in Cyprus in a negative and threatening manner,” he said.
The statement comes amid discussion over Israeli-linked investments in Cyprus, including the Trozena redevelopment project in the Limassol district, where Hungarian-Israeli investor Uriel Curtis’s company bought 94 plots in the abandoned village, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros.
In the Trozena case, Land Registry estimates for the area suggest some of the land changed hands for as little as €1 to €2 per square metre, while a reliable source said the company generally paid between €20,000 and €40,000 per plot, with prices varying according to size.
The investor’s application before the Limassol District Local Government Organisation covers a winery, a campsite around the village and the construction of 60 units. The Environment Department has reservations about the application as submitted, while a discrepancy has emerged over whether the 60 units concern rooms or individual houses.
Anolik said Cyprus-Israel friendship has developed into a deep human connection. “Thousands of families, entrepreneurs and professionals from Israel have chosen Cyprus as their second home out of sincere love and appreciation for the island and its culture,” he said.
He said the use of rhetoric that singles out a specific nationality, questions the legitimacy of a law-abiding community and uses charged terms such as “buyout” or “unchecked influence” is deeply concerning.
When political discourse uses old stereotypes about “foreign economic power” to stir fear, he added, it enters dangerous territory.
“Such rhetoric, targeting the Jewish people and their state while echoing historical and harmful myths of economic domination, fuels antisemitism,” he said.
He said targeting a specific community that contributes significantly to Cyprus’ economy and social fabric is not only unfounded, but also carries a tone of prejudice that should have no place in a modern, democratic European nation.
Anolik said the Israeli community in Cyprus is not closed off, but includes parents whose children attend local schools, entrepreneurs who create jobs for Cypriots and neighbours deeply committed to the island’s wellbeing.
“The mischaracterisation of this economic and social integration as a form of ‘dependence’ is a distortion of the reality of a free and globalised market,” he said.
The Israeli ambassador called on political leaders, influential figures and the public in Cyprus “to reject inflammatory and divisive language”.
“It is our collective responsibility to cultivate an environment that welcomes all those who choose to live and invest on the island, regardless of their nationality or background,” he said.
Anolik said Israel remains a steadfast ally of Cyprus.
“We will continue to work together to ensure that our bilateral ties are defined by facts, cooperation and friendship, not by fear or exclusion,” the statement concluded.
