The quiet occupation? Israeli migration and economic footprint in Cyprus under scrutiny

According to the Zionist newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, in a report published by the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, Cyprus is witnessing an unprecedented wave of public outrage against Israelis and “Zionism,” as Israeli property purchases continue to expand.

The paper notes that amid warnings about a coordinated Zionist-Israeli plan for territorial dominance, the issue has become a central topic in Cyprus’s political and media discourse.

The controversy peaked during a conference of the left-wing AKEL party, Cyprus’s second-largest political party, where the party’s Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou used harsh language against Zionists and warned that property acquisitions — especially near strategic areas and critical infrastructure — posed a serious threat to Cyprus’s sovereignty.

He said what is happening in Cyprus is similar to what occurred in Palestine — where Zionists gradually took over land through real estate purchases.

Stefanou added that the property purchases are part of a “larger scheme” involving the creation of Zionist settlements, religious schools, synagogues, and increased economic influence by Zionists within Cyprus.

He emphasized that these warnings are not rooted in hatred or antisemitism, but in a real fear of territorial loss.

Stefanou accused the Cypriot government of failing to control foreign real estate sales — particularly to Zionists — and urged immediate action.

In a notable move, Abdullah Al-Atari, the Palestinian ambassador to Cyprus, participated as an official speaker at the AKEL party conference — marking the first time a foreign ambassador has done so — signaling growing regional sensitivity to the issue of Zionist migration and real estate purchases in Cyprus.

Around the same time, anti-Israeli videos began circulating on Cypriot social media, especially TikTok. These videos showed members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community speaking in Israeli-accented Hebrew about buying property in Cyprus, with some claiming that God promised them Cyprus after Israel (i.e., the occupied Palestinian territories).

Some of the videos, posted by Cypriot citizens, included captions such as: “Why are you stealing our homes?” — which sparked widespread reactions from local users.

Reports suggest that despite legal and political restrictions, Zionists also hold property in the Turkish-controlled northern part of the island.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, anti-Zionist rhetoric and incitement against Israelis in Cyprus is rising amid growing warnings about the spread of anti-Zionist theories.

Oren Anolik, Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus, issued a statement calling for the fight against antisemitism and demonization of Zionists, stressing that criticism of Israeli policies should not be directed at individual Israelis or investors in Cyprus.

In response, the AKEL party stated that its criticisms were based on sovereignty and economic concerns, and accused Israel’s supporters of using the label of antisemitism to silence legitimate opposition.

Official statistics show that around 2,500 Israelis reside permanently in Cyprus, but estimates suggest that the real number may be between 12,000 and 15,000, as many enter the country using European passports.

Cypriot experts believe that due to increasing insecurity in the occupied Palestinian territories in recent years, Zionist migration and land acquisition in Cyprus is on the rise and could pose a long-term threat to national sovereignty.

This concern is growing at a time when Cyprus is facing a worsening housing crisis, and a sense is growing among parts of the population that “Israelis are buying everything.”