Cyprus–Israel relations
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Cyprus–Israel relations refer to the bilateral relations between
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
and
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
. Israel has an embassy in Nicosia, while Cyprus has an embassy in
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...
. Both countries are members of the
Union for the Mediterranean The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM; french: Union pour la Méditerranée, ar, الإتحاد من أجل المتوسط ''Al-Ittiḥād min ajl al-Mutawasseṭ'') is an intergovernmental organization of 43 member states from Europe and the M ...
,
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
,
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) is a post–Cold War, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) institution. The EAPC is a multilateral forum created to improve relations between NATO and non-NATO countries in Europe and Central Asi ...
, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,
International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an international financial institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries. Its stated mission is "working to foster glo ...
,
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
, and
World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade. With effective cooperation in the United Nations System, governments use the organization to establish, revise, and ...
. Cyprus and Israel have extensive collaboration on military, cultural, and political matters. The prospect of a joint use of oil and gas fields off Cyprus, as well as EuroAsia Interconnector, now the world's longest subsea electric power cable have also brought the two countries closer together.


History

During and immediately after
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, Cyprus became a transit point for Jewish
Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; ...
survivors trying to reach
Mandate Palestine Mandatory Palestine ( ar, فلسطين الانتدابية '; he, פָּלֶשְׂתִּינָה (א״י) ', where "E.Y." indicates ''’Eretz Yiśrā’ēl'', the Land of Israel) was a geopolitical entity established between 1920 and 1948 i ...
. Cyprus was then a British Crown Colony. From 1946 to 1949, an estimated 53,000 Jews were detained by the British in camps on Cyprus. Today, relations between Cyprus and Israel are strong. Many Cypriots and
Israelis Israelis ( he, יִשְׂרָאֵלִים‎, translit=Yīśrāʾēlīm; ar, الإسرائيليين, translit=al-ʾIsrāʾīliyyin) are the citizens and nationals of the State of Israel. The country's populace is composed primarily of Je ...
refer to them as Cypriot-Israeli brotherhood. In September 2013, the leader of
Democratic Rally The Democratic Rally ( el, Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός, translit=Dimokratikós Sinagermós, ΔΗΣΥ/DISY) is a liberal-conservative, Christian-democratic political party in Cyprus led by Averof Neofytou. The party was founded ...
Averof Neofytou called for supporting Israel as Cyprus's most reliable partner. Israeli President Shimon Peres called Cyprus Israel's most predictable neighbour.


Bilateral relations

In the 1980s and 1990s, Cyprus expressed concern over Israel's then close defense relationship with Turkey. Cyprus outwardly backed the Palestinians in the
Arab–Israeli conflict The Arab–Israeli conflict is an ongoing intercommunal phenomenon involving political tension, military conflicts, and other disputes between Arab countries and Israel, which escalated during the 20th century, but had mostly faded out by the ...
and officially recognizes Palestine as a ''de facto'' state. Cypriot first lady
Androulla Vassiliou Androulla Vassiliou ( el, Ανδρούλλα Βασιλείου; born 30 November 1943) is a Cypriot and European politician. Between March 2008 and February 2010, she was the European Commissioner for Health, and then, until November 2014, t ...
, wife of President
George Vasiliou Giorgos Vasos Vassiliou ( el, Γιώργος Βασιλείου; born 20 May 1931) is a Cypriot politician who served as the third president of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993. He was also the founder and leader of the Cypriot United Democrats party (E ...
, was declared persona non grata in Israel when a delegation she was leading attempted to meet with
Yasser Arafat Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini (4 / 24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004), popularly known as Yasser Arafat ( , ; ar, محمد ياسر عبد الرحمن عبد الرؤوف عرفات القدوة الحسيني, Mu ...
, who was then under house arrest. Relations began to improve in 1993. A number of bilateral agreements were signed and many official visits have taken place including the official State visit by the President of Israel and a reciprocate visit by the President of Cyprus. In the early 2000s, members of the Cypriot branch of the
Greek Orthodox Church The term Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also cal ...
were accused of selling church-owned land in the
West Bank The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
to Israeli developers. In 2010, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was set within the territorial waters between Israel and Cyprus at the maritime halfway point, a clarification essential for safeguarding Israel's rights to oil and underwater gas reservoirs. The agreement was signed in Nicosia by Israeli Infrastructure Minister
Uzi Landau Uzi Landau ( he, עוזי לנדאו, born 2 August 1943) is an Israeli politician and systems analyst. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1984 and 2006, and for Yisrael Beiteinu between 2009 and 2015. He also held several mi ...
and the Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou. The two countries agreed to cooperate in the development of any cross border resources discovered, and to negotiate an agreement on dividing joint resources. In February 2012, Netanyahu visited Cyprus, the first visit of an Israeli Prime Minister in history, and the two countries signed a search and rescue agreement. Israeli foreign minister
Avigdor Lieberman Avigdor Lieberman (, ; russian: Эве́т Льво́вич Ли́берман, Evet Lvovich Liberman, ; born 5 June 1958) is a Soviet-born Israeli politician serving as Minister of Finance since 2021, having previously served twice as Deputy ...
visited Cyprus at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart when Netanyahu was in Washington, and Lieberman has met with Cyprus foreign minister Kyprianou several times.


Energy and natural gas

Israeli energy firm Delek Group is seeking to work with Cyprus on natural gas exploration and extraction near the
Leviathan gas field The Leviathan gas field is a large natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel, south-west of the Tamar gas field. The gas field is roughly west of Haifa in waters deep in the Levantine basin, a rich hydrocarbon area in ...
off the Israeli coast where Delek is already active. The large oil and gas field, and the opportunities of joint use, have brought the two countries closer together. This however has opened a new source of frictions between both countries and Turkey.
Noble Energy Noble Energy, Inc. was a company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration headquartered in Houston, Texas. In October 2020, the company was acquired by Chevron Corporation. The company was known as Noble Affiliates, Inc. until 2002. As of December ...
, a US company, is also involved in the Leviathan field and this may lead to US government involvement in the gas fields dispute. Turkey claimed that the Greek-Cypriot government in the southern part of the island did not have the authority to sign deals with Israel which could be detrimental to the Turkish-Cypriot population in Northern Cyprus. The discovery of oil fields in the Mediterranean allowed Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to continue his diplomatic confrontation on two fronts: one with Israel, and one with Cyprus. Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias visited Israel in March 2011 for the first-ever official visit by a Cypriot head of state. Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
Antonis Paschalides Antonis Paschalides also Antonios ( gr, Αντώνης Πασχαλίδης) is a Greek Cypriot lawyer and politician member of DIKO (Democratic Party). On 29 February 2008 he was appointed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus as Minister of ...
noted however that, despite all the enthusiasm, Cyprus could not ignore Israeli tourism and real estate projects in the island's north, which was under disputed Turkish control. According to Turkish media reports in September 2011, Israel Air Force fighter planes flew through the airspace of both Cyprus and Northern Cyprus after taking off to face a Turkish seismic research ship in the Eastern Mediterranean. The reports added that Turkey responded by launching two fighters to track the Israeli planes, at which point the Israeli fighter jets returned to Israeli airspace. The Turkish research vessel was seen as a Turkish provocation in the dispute over gas fields. The operation of Israeli planes in Cyprus airspace was interpreted as a further sign of close Israel-Cyprus ties. ΔΕΗ-Quantum Energy, a Cyprus-based group including Greece's state-controlled power utility Public Power Corporation of Greece (PPC, also known as DEH) is planning to lay the world's longest submarine power cable, linking Israel, Cyprus and Greece. The link, called the EuroAsia Interconnector project, would be the longest in the world. The cable is supposed to pass from Israel via Cyprus and
Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...
, and from there to mainland Europe notably
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and Switzerland and from
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
to
Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...
. During his visit in Israel in April 2013 Foreign Minister of Cyprus has expressed his enthusiasm that as Cyprus has financial and economic problems, the energy cooperation agreement between Cyprus and Israel is a bright spot in that will boost hopes for a quick recovery by 2014. In March 2021, Cyprus said that it had reached an agreement with Israel concerning the gas reserves in their maritime border. The Israeli side said that the two countries have set a framework that might solve the issue.


Cypriot mediation between Israel and Lebanon

Since the establishment of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Cyprus, Israel and Lebanon, Cyprus has been offering mediation between
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...
and Israel over their maritime border dispute which was delaying gas and oil exploration of the two countries. General Director of the Department of Energy in Cyprus Solonas Kasinis announced in 2010 from
Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
that Cyprus does anything possible to strengthen cooperation between the three countries not only on the issue of the division of gas and oil reserves but also on military and strategic matters. In an effort to further settle the unstable situation between Israel and Lebanon, Chair President of Cypriot Parliament Yiannakis Omirou visited Lebanese President
Michel Suleiman Michel Suleiman ( ar, ميشال سليمان ; born 21 November 1948) is a Lebanese Maronite Christian politician who served as President of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014. Before becoming president, he served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forc ...
in
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
to find solution to the disputes.


Tripartite energy memorandum

On August 8, 2013, Greece, Israel and Cyprus signed the tripartite energy memorandum of understanding after the completion of one year negotiation in Nicosia. Negotiations were held between the Energy and Water Resources Minister of Israel
Silvan Shalom Zion Silvan Shalom ( he, ציון סילבן שלום, born 4 August 1958) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1992 and 2015. He held several prominent ministerial positions, including being Vice Prim ...
, the Cypriot minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment Nicos Kouyialis and the Cypriot minister of environment, energy and climate change George Lakkotrypis. The 2,000-mega-watt EuroAsia Interconnector is planned to lift Cyprus and Israel out of energy isolation through cheaper electricity as supported by George Lakkotrypis. Silvan Shalom announced that the agreement is "historic" and that it demonstrated the powerful relations between the three countries adding that electricity will be exported to the European energy market via cable. The Greek Prime Minister at the time Antonis Samaras proclaimed on 8 August that Israel has a special role to play in supplying Europe with energy resources and supported that it can become a key energy hub.


Civil marriage

Israeli matrimonial law is still based on the Millet system employed in the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
, which was not modified during the British Mandate and remains in force. Marriages in each religious community are under the jurisdiction of its own religious authority. Israeli couples who for any reason are unable or unwilling to contract a religious marriage often opt to get married in neighboring Cyprus, given that civil, interfaith and
same-sex marriages Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
entered into abroad are recognised by the Israeli state. Republic of Cyprus is ranked as the first or second destination for Israeli civil wedding, alongside
Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...
.


State visits to Cyprus

Israel and Cyprus agreed on the middle of February 2011 to launch a joint natural gas and oil exploration venture in their adjoining territorial waters. Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
and Cypriot President Demetris Christofias inked the deal during Netanyahu's visit to Nicosia, which was the first by an Israeli leader ever. The deal will also allow Israel to use Cyprus' air space and territorial waters for aerial and naval search and rescue drills. The Prime Minister's Office said that the deal was part of the two nations' efforts to "strengthen the improving ties between the two nations, as well as boost energy security in both countries." Netanyahu traveled to Cyprus with a mission of 20 high-level government officials, including Energy and Water Minister
Uzi Landau Uzi Landau ( he, עוזי לנדאו, born 2 August 1943) is an Israeli politician and systems analyst. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1984 and 2006, and for Yisrael Beiteinu between 2009 and 2015. He also held several mi ...
and the directors of Israel's National Security and National Economic councils. In April 2012 Foreign Minister made a three-day visit to Nicosia to discuss the gas-sharing agreement to exploit reserves that fall on the maritime boundary between the two countries. Lieberman later discussed the prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, tourism and investment with Commerce and Industry Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis. Lieberman said relations between the two countries are probably at their best stage since the establishment of Cyprus and Israel. On 2 September 2013 President of the Cypriot House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou and the Knesset Speaker
Yuli-Yoel Edelstein Yuli-Yoel Edelstein ( he, יוּלִי־יוֹאֵל אֵדֶלְשְטֵיין, russian: Ю́лий Ю́рьевич Эдельште́йн, link=no, uk, Ю́лій Ю́рійович Едельште́йн, born 5 August 1958) is an Israeli ...
signed a protocol of cooperation between their countries' Parliaments. After the signing of the protocol Yiannakis Omirou expressed his enthusiasm for the setting up of a Cyprus-Israeli Friendship Group in the respective parliaments. Edelstein announced that the signing of the memorandum is a testament to the joint efforts and close cooperation between the two countries and will increase connection in the years to come. On 2 September 2013 the president of Democratic Rally, Averof Neophytou in a press conference in Nicosia characterised Israel as Cyprus' most reliable ally.


Economic relations

The Cypriot media report that the country could receive natural gas from Israel in early 2015, at reduced prices, if discussions on the supply of small quantities are completed by the end of the year, as the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Neoklis Sylikiotis has announced in a press conference about a visit to Israel by a high-ranking Cypriot delegation. The Cypriot government is seeking an interim energy solution until its own natural gas reserves can be developed. Minister Sylikiotis said that Israel is positive in supplying Cyprus a small quantity of natural gas, 0.5-0.7 billion cubic meters, for electricity production. He added that Cyprus would import Israeli gas in the form of
liquefied natural gas Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. It takes up about 1/600th the vol ...
(LNG) through contracts between Electricity Authority of Cyprus and Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). Export proposals also include building a pipeline from Israel, Cyprus and finally to
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
or combining the gas from discoveries off Cyprus and Israel at a joint LNG plant as soon as 2018 that will be built in the southern city of
Larnaca Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 1 ...
. Another option suggested by Noble was to build a plant in
Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
to ship the fuel to Asia through the Red Sea.


Cyprus-Israel Business Association

With the cooperation of both Cypriot and Israeli government in 2008 Cyprus-Israel Business Association was formed and is held annually in Nicosia,
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
. It headquarters in Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry building and contacts Ministry of Finance of both
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
and
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
to coordinate an increase in financial bonds of the two countries. In the annual forum of Cyprus-Israel Business Association speakers from key positions from both countries take part. In September 2011 Chief Executive Officer of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ester Levanon visited Cyprus to present “The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange as a reflection of the Israeli Economy”. Other prominent speakers include Ex-Ministers of Commerce and Trade Praxoulla Antoniadou Kyriacou and Antonis Paschalides, the President and the Secretary-General of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manthos Mavrommatis, the President and the General Manager of the
Cyprus Stock Exchange The Cyprus Stock Exchange or CSE ( el, Χρηματιστήριο Αξιών Κύπρου or ΧΑΚ), is a European stock exchange located in Cyprus. {{Infobox person , name = Rohit kanojia , image = , image_size ...
George Koufaris, the Ambassador of Israel Michael Harari and the Ambassador of
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
Christakis Papavassiliou. In 2013 Cyprus-Israel Business Association conferences took place in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
and even though the participants of 100 Israeli companies and the 30 Cypriot firms discuss how to increase cooperation in fields ranging “from milk to gas,” the main emphasis was on the Mediterranean natural resource that each of the countries has the potential to export. In May 2013 the President of the Israel-Cyprus Business Association Christakis Papavasilious announced “the new historic era” that Cyprus and Israel are entering together in regards to the economic aspect, and that both countries should rely on each other in order to push forward.


Electricity connection

Electricity connection between Hadera of Israel and Vasilikos in Cyprus is one of the projects that will be funded by the European Union in the framework of the programme Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). According to a press release issued by the European Commission the amount earmarked for the Hadera Israel-Vasilikos Cyprus connection is approximately €1.325m. The project is based on an undersea cable for the connection of the electricity systems of Israel, Cyprus and Greece. Its capacity will be 2000 MW and its length approximately 1518 km. It will include three connections: 329 km between Israel and Cyprus, 879 km between Cyprus and Crete and 310 km between Crete and mainland Greece and will allow electricity transmission to both directions.


Military collaboration

In October 2011
Phileleftheros ''O Phileleftheros'' ( el, Ὁ Φιλελεύθερος, meaning "The Liberal") is the largest newspaper (by circulation) in Cyprus, with about 26,000 copies daily (2002). Established in 1955, it is also the oldest Greek-language daily newspaper i ...
newspaper published a document detailing a military exercise between Israel and Cyprus, which included mid-air refuelling of fighter jets and quick touchdown landings by Israel Air Force combat helicopters in Cyprus. In 2013 Israel is expecting to receive approval from the Cypriot government to station military jets at the Andreas Papandreou airbase in the city of
Paphos Paphos ( el, Πάφος ; tr, Baf) is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos. The current city of Pap ...
, creating the first Israeli military station outside the Israel. It is unknown if the plans include a permanent military presence on the island, with a full-time deployment of airmen. In April 2013 it was reported that Israel was set to send warships to the eastern Mediterranean for a joint military exercise with the Republic of Cyprus. Cypriot Defense Minister Fotis Fotiou confirmed that the joint exercise, which will include the participation of four or five Israeli warships, would start on 25 April. Fotiou also noted that Cyprus will focus on the security of the eastern Mediterranean region and that of gas companies. On 9 April the Minister of Defence, Fotis Fotiou, met at his office with the Ambassador of Israel Michael Harari. In an official statement after the meeting Michael Harari expressed his view that Israel and Cyprus are determined to strengthen and deepen their relations in all areas in favor of their peoples and the region in general. In early May 2013 Israel Defence Minister
Moshe Ya'alon Moshe "Bogie" Ya'alon ( he, משה יעלון; born Moshe Smilansky on 24 June 1950) is an Israeli politician and former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, who also served as Israel's Defense Minister under Benjamin Netanyahu from 2013 ...
and Cypriot Defence Minister Fotis Fitiou met in
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...
to set the foundations for a coordinated cooperation in energy security issues. On his return to Cyprus, the Cyprus Defense Minister announced that during his meeting in Tel Aviv, they also decided to set up technical committees to promote the issues examined. Moshe Ya'alon referred to the strategic relationship between the two countries and their benefit from the natural-gas field that lies between their shores. He added that Israel intends to improve the preparedness of its navy in the Mediterranean to protect the gas facilities of Israel and Cyprus." On 11 February 2014 between 11am and 1am Israel and Cyprus held a joint military exercise codenamed ‘Onisilos-Gideon’ in Cypriot FIR and the scheduled drill occurred inside the Nicosia flight information region (FIR). Israeli fighter jets carried out flybys over areas south of
Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
featuring 32 F15 and F16 jets and six more support aircraft of the Israeli Air Force, the exercise included simulated firing at targets on land and sea along the southern coast from
Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
to
Paphos Paphos ( el, Πάφος ; tr, Baf) is a coastal city in southwest Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In classical antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos, today known as Kouklia, and New Paphos. The current city of Pap ...
.


"Onisilos-Gideon" October 2014

On 21 October 2014 Israel and Cyprus held joint military exercise that included aerial maneuvers by Israeli Air Force fighter jets in Cypriot airspace in collaboration with the
Cypriot National Guard , name2 = National Guard General Staff , image = Emblem of the Cypriot National Guard.svg , image_size = 100px , caption = Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus , image2 = Flag of the ...
. Another part of the military drill took place in Cypriot territorial waters off the island of
Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, ...
.


Memorandum of Understanding

On 21 December 2011 Israeli minister of public security,
Avi Dichter Avi Dichter ( he, אָבִי דִּיכְטֶר, ; born 14 December 1952) is an Israeli politician. A former Minister of Internal Security and Shin Bet director, he resigned from the Knesset and left Kadima in August 2012 in order to become M ...
, with the Cypriot Minister of Interior Eleni Mavrou, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ensuring the mutual protection and assistance between the two countries in the field of disaster management and civil protection. The MoU provides for collaboration and sharing practices on how to prepare the population for disasters and crises.


Environmental cooperation

A new desalination plant operates in
Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...
, launched by the National Water Company Mekorot. The desalination plant has the capacity to produce up to of desalinated potable water daily. At the inauguration of the plant in August 2013, there were present both President of Cyprus
Nicos Anastasiades Nicos Anastasiades ( el, Νίκος Αναστασιάδης ; born 27 September 1946) is a Cypriot politician who is the current president of Cyprus since 2013. He was re-elected in 2018. Previously, he was the leader of Democratic Rally bet ...
and Israeli Minister of Energy and Water Resources Silvan Shalom. Cypriot Minister of Agriculture Nicos Kouyalis and Israel Minister of Energy and Water Resources Silvan Shalom met between 24 and 27 August 2013, during which they discussed issues pertaining to water development, management and protection based on the larger framework of the Memorandum of Understanding. There was high level of discussion at a technocratic level which is targeting at the further reinforcement of the cooperation and the exchange of experiences and knowledge, particularly relating to urban waste water treatment and the use of recycled water in agriculture.


Cyprus fires in June 2016

Cyprus on 18 June asked help from Israel after a fire was raging out of control in
Argaka Argaka ( gr, Αργάκα) is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the east ...
and other forest areas close to Evrychou which had approximately burned seventeen square kilometres of wild vegetation, hay and pine forest and could not be brought under control due to strong winds. Israel immediately sent three airtankers on 19 June, and an additional plane carrying 36 cubic meters of firefighting foam flew to the island on 20 June, per the Cypriot government request. Greece, Britain, Italy and France also sent helicopters and planes to aid in the firefighting efforts. On 20 June Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
before the weekly Cabinet meeting announced he was pleased his country was able to extend assistance to Cyprus in order to put out the fire that broke out near Argaka and recalled that in 2010, during the massive Mount Carmel forest fire, the first person to contact for assistance was the president of Cyprus Demetris Christofias.
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
dispatched its only helicopter and plane to assist in the fire-fighting effort. On 28 June Cyprus President
Nicos Anastasiades Nicos Anastasiades ( el, Νίκος Αναστασιάδης ; born 27 September 1946) is a Cypriot politician who is the current president of Cyprus since 2013. He was re-elected in 2018. Previously, he was the leader of Democratic Rally bet ...
thanked from his bottom of his heart the prime minister of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
in their telephone conversation.


Educational collaboration

In June 2016 Cyprus and Israel signed a programme of cooperation in the sectors of culture, education and science, for a period of three years (2016-2019), during an official visit of the Cypriot Minister of Education and Culture Costas Kadis to Israel. Cyprus Minister Costas Kadis visited Israel between 22 and 23 of June, at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett. During their meeting both Ministers emphasised the importance of strengthening the cooperation of the two countries in the field of education and especially in higher education. Naftali Benntett accepted the invitation of the Cypriot Minister to visit Cyprus with representatives of Universities and Research Centres of Israel to continue the dialogue and to identify areas of common interest for cooperation in higher education.


Cultural collaboration

With the initiative of Cyprus Ministry of Education a number of exchange programmes have been funded between Israeli and Cypriot students from years 12 to 18. The Israeli Yacht club and Famagusta District Sailing Club organised between 1–4 October 2012 the first "Cyprus-Israel Regatta" during which participants sailed from
Larnaca Larnaca ( el, Λάρνακα ; tr, Larnaka) is a city on the south east coast of Cyprus and the capital of the district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Nicosia and Limassol, with a metro population of 1 ...
to Tel Aviv. In August 2012 both countries signed a treaty to cooperate in forming a bank that will host the important amount of data which results from the numerous excavations that are conducted in both Israel and Cyprus. On 18 May 2013 Cypriot public was offered the opportunity to experience Israeli culture at the New Theatre Building of THOC in Nicosia through an exclusive series of cultural events and artistic happenings. Those who attended experienced some of Israel's best works of art, including theatre, children's puppet show, films and a photograph exhibition.


Diplomacy

;Republic of Cyprus *
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...
(Embassy) ;Republic of Israel * Nicosia (Embassy)


Visits


See also

* Energy Triangle *
International recognition of Israel The State of Israel was formally established by the Israeli Declaration of Independence on 14 May 1948, and was admitted to the United Nations (UN) as a member state on 11 May 1949. , it has received diplomatic recognition from 165 () of the to ...
* Foreign relations of Cyprus *
Foreign relations of Israel Foreign relations of Israel refers to diplomatic and trade relations between Israel and other countries around the world. Israel has diplomatic ties .
* Kindness in Cyprus


References


External links


Israeli embassy in Cyprus official websiteCyprus Tel Aviv embassyCyprus-Israel Business AssociationCivil Marriages of Israelis in CyprusIsraeli paper on "national interest" on Cyprus Israel relations
{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel-Cyprus Relations
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...
Bilateral relations of Cyprus