Nicosia, Cyprus (Agencies) July 4, 2025 — A growing wave of Israeli property acquisitions in southern Cyprus has ignited a fierce political and diplomatic debate, with opposition leaders warning of a strategic demographic shift that could threaten the island’s sovereignty. The controversy reached a boiling point this week after Stefanos Stefanou, Secretary General of the AKEL party, accused Israeli nationals of forming gated enclaves and establishing religious infrastructure in key districts such as Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos.
Speaking at a party congress, Stefanou claimed that the influx of Israeli buyers—many of whom are settling near sensitive infrastructure—resembles patterns seen in the occupied Palestinian territories. “They are taking the country away from us,” he declared, citing the construction of Zionist schools and synagogues as evidence of a broader expansion strategy.
The remarks have sparked backlash from Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, who condemned the statements as “plain-and-simple antisemitism.” In a public response, Anolik warned that such rhetoric revives “dark patterns from the past” and risks fueling extremist sentiment across the eastern Mediterranean.
Government figures show that Israeli nationals are now the fourth-largest group of foreign property buyers in Cyprus, behind Britons, Russians, and Greeks. In Larnaca alone, Israelis have purchased over 1,400 properties, with similar trends in Limassol and Paphos5. Many of these acquisitions involve large land parcels, often developed into gated communities with spas, resorts, and religious facilities.
The surge has been attributed to regional instability, judicial reforms in Israel, and the October 7 war, which prompted thousands of Israelis to seek refuge abroad. A 2023 article in Haaretz titled “The Second Israel? Israelis Are Streaming Into Cyprus to Buy Anything in Sight” highlighted the trend as part of a long-term relocation strategy.
AKEL has introduced two bills in parliament aimed at restricting bulk property sales near military zones and tightening the issuance of “golden visas” to non-EU nationals. Stefanou insists the party’s stance is not antisemitic but rooted in concerns over national security and housing affordability.
The Cypriot government has so far remained silent, though officials have acknowledged the need to monitor foreign investment patterns. Analysts warn that unchecked real estate consolidation could lead to economic displacement and geopolitical leverage in future negotiations.
The debate has revived historical anxieties, with some commentators drawing parallels to early Zionist proposals to settle Jews in Cyprus during the British Mandate era. Others point to recent Israeli interest in Cypriot ports and infrastructure as part of a contingency plan amid regional conflict.
As the island grapples with its own partition and foreign influence, the question remains: is Cyprus selling homes—or sovereignty?