Jewish neighborhoods in Cyprus: Israel's land acquisition plan
Israeli settlers, who have purchased and occupied Palestinian land, are now employing a similar strategy in Cyprus. Thousands of acres have been acquired on the island, prompting concerns among local officials.
Israel, which had acquired and subsequently occupied Palestinian territories by force, is now pursuing a similar strategy in Cyprus. Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of acres in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have been purchased by Israelis, leading to the establishment of Jewish neighborhoods on the island. Thousands of Jewish individuals fleeing the Ukrainian war have also found refuge in Cyprus.
According to the official sources, the Jewish population in the TRNC now exceeds 43,000. Records indicate that Jews, both directly and indirectly, have acquired 25,000 square meters of land within the 3,355 square kilometers of northern Cyprus. Additionally, Jewish investors have established nearly 1,500 companies in the TRNC.
PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN
Mayors in Cyprus, whom we interviewed, have noted a significant recent surge in land acquisitions, emphasizing that the recent trend of land purchases has increased phenomenally.
"Our authorities should promptly enact a new legislation to ensure the preservation of Turkish land ownership. Transitioning to a rental method instead of title deed transfer is essential. The real estate sector from Turkiye should actively participate in Cyprus," emphasized Tatlisu Mayor Hayri Orcan.
Yasemin Öztürk, a member of parliament with the Cyprus National Unity Party, stated in an interviewwith Turkiye daily that without immediate intervention, Cyprus could potentially face a situation similar to that of Gaza and Palestine.
THE SECOND ISRAEL
Cyprus played a significant role in offering refuge to some of those fleeing the Nazi genocide during World War II, with the establishment of a concentration camp on the island, where approximately 50,000 Jews found shelter. Larnaca emerged as a prominent center for the Jewish community.
During his visit, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed to Greek officials, "Provide us with an air and naval base, and Israel will establish a military presence."
An oil pipeline was laid from Israel to Limassol on the Greek Cypriot side. As part of this effort, approximately 50,000 Jews, including 20,000 soldiers, relocated to Limassol, with plans to establish the area as a significant Israeli presence.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the first week of the Hamas-Israel conflict that began last month landed in Larnaca and stated, "I am here as a Jew, not just as the U.S. Secretary of State," before meeting with the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, Nikos Christodoulides.
The TRNC was established in 1983 after ethnic conflicts that began in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots into enclaves for their safety. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at the annexation of the island by Greece led to Turkiye's military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. The TRNC was subsequently established in 1983.
The region has witnessed sporadic peace processes, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland, under the guidance of guarantor countries Turkiye, Greece, and the U.K.
WHAT HAPPENED
Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they launched a comprehensive attack against Israel called “Al-Aqsa Flood” on the morning of Oct. 7.
While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, armed groups entered the settlements in the region. The Israeli army also launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of warplanes. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israel killed 10, 569 people, including 4,324 children, 2,823 women, and 397 elderly people. It injured at least 32,000 people in its attacks on Gaza.
It was reported that 1,400 Israelis, including 324 soldiers, were killed and 5,132 Israelis were wounded in the attacks from Gaza.
The Israeli army hit Damascus and Aleppo airports. As the Middle East is once again turning into a bloodbath, a deadline has been set for nearly 2.5 million Palestinians to leave the blockaded Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, 106 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers. In Israel’s attacks on Gaza, 48 journalists were killed.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border since Oct. 8, 55 Hezbollah members and 4 civilians, one of whom was a journalist, were killed. Three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed in the attacks organized by Lebanon.
Most recently, Israel attacked the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza, killing civilians.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he was breaking off all contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Newsroom
