AKEL Leader’s Remarks Spark Controversy
After the leader of the main opposition party on the island made divisive comments that prompted charges of antisemitism, tensions are rising in Cyprus. According to Stfanos, secretary general of the left-wing Akil party, Israeli investors are acquiring land along the coast and constructing what he described as Zionist synagogues and schools. He asserted that Israel does not accept criticism and seeks to control everything, claiming that areas of Cyprus are becoming gated ghettos.
Israeli Ambassador Condemns Statements
Orurin Anukin, Israel’s ambassador, has denounced these remarks as outright antisemitism. Anukin claimed that by singling out a community based on identity, Stfanu had gone too far. A growing disagreement over how to handle foreign investment and its effects on Cyprus’s sovereignty is highlighted by the ambassador’s response.
AKEL’s Push to Limit Golden Visas
The dispute stems from an AEL resolution from June that called for restrictions on the so-called golden visas, which are residency permits granted to non-EU citizens who make real estate investments. The Cypress Mail claims that Israelis are currently the fourth-largest group of foreign buyers in both districts, after Greeks, Russians, and Britons. Rejecting the label of antisemitism, the Akil party maintains that its criticism is focused on real estate policy rather than religion or ethnicity.
Parliamentary Debate on Hate Speech Looms
A parliamentary discussion on hate speech is anticipated before the August recess as a result of the heated debate. The comments made by Stfanos and the answer from Anukin highlight the delicate nature of the matter, which has ramifications for both domestic policy and international relations as Cyprus struggles to strike a balance between foreign investment and national interests.
