English
By Theodosis Pipis, Analyst KEDISA
The origins of the State of Israel have their own unique history which does not differ much from the history of Cyprus. Two ethnic groups which due to historical and vastly colonial reasons ended up sharing the same geographical unit, up until the point where clashes emerged inevitably leading to armed conflict and territorial division between groups which are today understood as distinct nationalities. Israel emerged from the notion of creating a territorial state, whereas Cyprus (or should I say the Republic of Cyprus and the militarily occupied Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) came to existence by means of foreign machinations.[1] Both these countries were divided through war. Israel came to exist due to Jewish immigration and subsequent military conflicts resulting in the expansion of Israeli territories in the land of Palestine. Cyprus on the other hand, was invaded in the summer of 1974 by Turkish forces which then created the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) in 1983, which bears similar history in its existence to the Israeli State, barring international recognition.
Before delving into contemporary relations between these two Mediterranean states and their implications on regional security I will briefly outline how Jewish immigration led to Israel emerging as a contemporary nation state and how Cyprus exists within a framework of a divided island, highlighting the similar story of these two nations.
Beginning with the Jewish immigration into Palestine (roughly between 1900-1930), Jewish immigrants preferred homogenous urban spaces, rather than settling and co-existing with the indigenous Arab population. Their imagined Jewish state did not encompass integration with the local population.[2] Upon their arrival in Palestine they strived to assert a nativist character which kept them distant from the Arab population. The gradual economic expansion and the increasing European Jewish immigration during World War II led to Jewish control of the economy, the ports, and the social sphere in the Palestinian territory. The establishment of the State of Israel was an inevitability and their continuous expansion as a state became a reality during the second half of the twentieth century. Even today, their war on Gaza could eventually lead to the annexation of the Gaza strip which will grant Israel further access to the energy rich Mediterranean waters.
Cyprus too has a similar story, although one that is much less acknowledged in world history. The Eastern Mediterranean island has throughout history been passed from empire to empire, and most recently was part of the British Empire (1878-1960). Like Palestine it was home to both Muslims and Christians, which under British rule transformed to Greek and Turkish Cypriots.[3] Once independence was granted in 1960 the Cypriot state descended into bi-communal chaos between Greek Cypriots who demanded union with Greece and Turkish Cypriots which demanded union with Turkey (Taksim). The subsequent Turkish invasion left the island divided between an occupied Northern Turkish Republic and the southern Cypriot Republic, part of the EU.
Both countries (Cyprus and Israel) share the history of militant partition; however, Cyprus today shares positive and friendly relations with the State of Israel. Although this is paradoxical given that Cyprus was invaded and divided by a foreign force, much like the Palestinians which were subject to a measured take over by Jewish immigrants and eventually lost their lands by means of war in 1948. Regardless, Cyprus has remained politically supportive of Israel in the 21st century and vice-versa.
Today, Cyprus is subject to a mounting Israeli immigration, especially in the coastal city of Larnaca and its outskirts. A great number of Israelis are buying property in Cyprus, in part due to its proximity to Israel and the relatively low cost of living. The government’s judicial overhaul has also prompted people to look for a refuge abroad.[4] Furthermore, since the outbreak of the war this has also added to the reasons of immigration to Cyprus. However, the focus of this paper is not on recreational Israeli investment, but the investment on security and the political ties which drag Cyprus into Israel’s war with Hamas and potentially on their war with Hezbollah.
Since the early 2010s Cypriot politicians have declared the close relationship between these two nations as the Israeli-Cypriot Brotherhood and Cyprus’ most reliable partner.[5] A relationship which has been growing leading to relative political silence regarding the on-going war in Gaza and Israeli violations in the West Bank, as well as the recent escalations in Lebanon. In August of 2024 the Israeli Defence Ministry called on Cyprus (and Greece) for potential military support. The use of Cypriot bases would however bring Cyprus into a war which it cannot afford. After being directly threatened by Hezbollah in June of this year, Cyprus maintained its neutrality, however, the increasing number of Israelis settling and buying property in Cyprus, along with whispers round the island that the IDF is eying Cypriot ports in Larnaca and Paphos for military use provide an interesting paradox.
What I am suggesting here is that under the guise of regional and strategic security in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is being used in a similar role to Palestine during the early 1920s when heavy investment in coastal cities such as Haifa led to the economic control of Palestine.
Haifa today is a flourishing Israeli city due to the economic expanse of Jewish settlers during the years leading up to the 1948 war, which granted Israel its establishment as an independent state. This practice, commonly referred to as settler colonialism, is something that Cyprus could find itself subject to.
Historically, the case Haifa could deed as a foreshadowing of what could happen to Cyprus should the economic investment ensue. A port city (akin to Larnaca), with low population density. By the time the Jewish settlers expelled Palestinians from their homes and proclaimed Palestine as the State of Israel, Jewish settlers had become the majority population in Haifa. Equivalent narratives can be found across Palestinian cities and towns. Since the Israeli invasion of Gaza, fear drove thousands of Israeli citizens out of the country, across the Mediterranean pond, and into the Republic of Cyprus. Their numbers have swelled membership at the island’s Larnaca-based Chabad Lubavitch, which now also has congregations in Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos and Ayia Napa.[6] Private property throughout Cyprus is being purchased by Israeli citizens, which can arguably look to expand their influence across the Mediterranean sea and into the EU economic zone.
Cyprus was once a pro-Palestinian country, to the point which in 1993, Israel declared first lady Androulla Vassiliou, wife of Cypriot President George Vasiliou, persona non grata in Israel when a delegation she led attempted to meet with the then Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom the Israelis placed under house arrest in his office building in Ramallah.[7] Now Cyprus is treading dangerously on a rope which can lead to the island being dragged into a war, or even worse, it could become subject to Israeli economic control of the island, much like the early stages of settler colonialism in Palestine. The recent Israel Business Summit in Nicosia accentuates the augmented increase in Israeli expansion into the Cypriot economy. Much like Russian and Chinese investment during the last decade or so brought Cyprus a score of issues with the EU, this investment could generate a new line of issues for the Republic of Cyprus. Speculative as this is, Israel has earmarked Cyprus as the most likely destination for their capital. Settler colonialism is almost impossible to find a fertile breeding ground in an EU Member State, however, Israeli expansion of property ownership as well as potential deviation of funds into ports could resign partial control of the island to Israel which offers a threateningly similar scenario to their expansion in Palestinian territories over the past century.
Endnotes
[1] Isaiah Berlin questions the expansionist notion of creating a Jewish state in Palestinian land by calling it audacious, ruthless and direct. Isaiah Berlin, The Power of Ideas, (London, 2000), p. 145.
[2] Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, (London, 2007), p.273.
[3] This was primarily due to the growing influence of Hellenism and the Greek state and the establishment of the Turkish nation in 1923.
[4] Haaretz, “The Second Israel? Israelis Are Streaming into Cyprus to Buy Anything in Sight”, 15 August 2023.
[5] Cyprus Mail, “Knesset speaker to visit”, 30 August 2013.
[6] The Times of Israel, “Israel, Cyprus, mark painful anniversary at joint event”, 18 September 2024.
[7] Middle East Eye, “Cyprus: From early Zionist colony to Israeli military base for war on Gaza”, 26 June 2024. See also, The Jerusalem Post, “The evolution of Israel-Greece ties, from Enemies to Allies”, 28 July 2022.
