Today’s relations between Israel and Cyprus are excellent and at the best place they have ever been in their history, said the Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik, during the World Conference of Cyprus Diaspora taking place in Nicosia.

According to the Israeli ambassador, public opinion surveys show that 90% of Cypriots are supportive and see favourably the good relations between Israel and Cyprus and think they are in the benefit of both countries.

“There is a consensus about having good relations and we feel it everywhere we go in Cyprus, people want to work with us, cooperate and study with us”, he stressed.

One important element of the bilateral relationship, which is relatively new, is security and defence, continued Anolik, adding that Cyprus and Israel are cooperating in different exercises between the National Guard and the IDF, while Israel is one of the leading suppliers of new systems to the National Guard.

He also referred to the bilateral cooperation in the area of energy, whether that concerns natural gas, connecting the electricity grid of the two countries, renewable energy and energy storage.

The Israeli ambassador also said that his country is also enjoying political support from Cyprus within the EU and that they are trying to be supportive as well, while highlighting the excellent, as he described them, trilateral relations between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, adding that at the beginning of September the Prime Minister of Israel and the Prime Minister of Greece are visiting Cyprus for the 9th leaders’ summit.

He added that trade between Cyprus and Israel is reaching almost €1 billion per year, Israeli investments in Cyprus are growing by both companies and individuals, there is cooperation in healthcare, while Israel is the second biggest contributor of tourists to Cyprus with about 300,000 visitors per year and 100 flights per week from Israel to Cyprus this year.

“Israel and Cyprus view each other as the closest like-minded countries for growth,” he stressed.

He also referred to the relations of Israel with the Israeli and Jewish communities abroad as an example of maintaining bonds between the homeland and the diaspora, explaining that there are several visiting programmes for young people, programmes for strengthening the Jewish identity, culture and education abroad, along with involvement and advocacy efforts supporting Jewish communities around the world, but also for receiving support from the communities when they try to advocate for Israel with their own politicians and the local public opinion.

Asked about what actions are undertaken by his government for cases of Israeli citizens buying properties in the occupied areas, Anolik said that that there is not much the Israeli government can do about this issue and any actions have to be coordinated with the government of Cyprus.

He added that most Israelis have very little knowledge about what is happening in Cyprus and that the Cypriot government and the Cypriot embassy in Israel can do more to educate people around the world about the situation, noting that the Israeli government can help with creating a campaign on this issue.

“Legally speaking there is not much that can be done because no Israeli law is being violated, they are laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the government needs to think what they ought to do for the violation of these laws,” he said, adding that sadly this phenomenon is real and people are taking advantage of the situation for economic benefit, but it is not affecting the bilateral relations in general.