The New Israel: Cyprus ‘Silent Occupation’

Reports in Cyprus and Greece are speaking of “Cyprus becoming the new Zionist promised land.” Hours after Israel initiated a military strike against Iran, numerous Israelis became stranded in Cyprus due to the cancellation of flights to and from the Jewish state. Over a week later, the Hasidic movement, better known in Cyprus as Chabad, a global ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement, continues to house a substantial number of Israeli nationals throughout the Island. As reported by Rabbi Zeev Raskin, the chief Lubavitch rabbi of Cyprus, in a statement to the local media outlet Politis, “over the past ten days, 12,000 Jews have visited the six Chabad houses situated on the island. During their visits, they have been provided with food, assistance with accommodation, and various types of emergency support”. The Rabi further estimated that ”by Sunday morning last week, there were still 15,000 Jews living in Cyprus.”

Raskin noted that in recent years, Cyprus’s geographical position near the coast of Israel has led to its characterisation as “Israel’s back door”. Following the closure of Israel’s airspace in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, numerous Israelis chose to prolong their holidays in Cyprus. Furthermore, in the wake of the Oct 7 attack, a remarkable influx of 5,000 Jews arrived in Cyprus within a single day. However, nothing could have predicted the extraordinary increase in Israeli land acquisition in Cyprus, to the alarming point it has reached today. 

VIDEO: What’s happening in Cyprus? 15,000 Israeli citizens arrive and build a secret community overnight! (Source: PowerAxis)

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Stefanos Stefanu, the Secretary-General of the left-wing AKEL party in Cyprus, has raised concerns regarding the increasing volume of Israeli land acquisitions in southern Cyprus. While speaking to party members at the AKEL congress, Stefanu characterised this trend as an emerging national security issue. He noted that Israeli nationals are purchasing extensive tracts of land and significant economic resources, in addition to setting up schools, synagogues, and various community amenities. He cautioned that such developments could result in the formation of isolated, self-sufficient enclaves on the island. Social media posts linked to AKEL have repeated the party’s concerns, using terms such as “New Israel” and “the new country occupied by Israel.”

The real estate sector in Cyprus is witnessing a significant surge in investment from Israel, as evidenced by the recent declaration of a new collaboration worth several tens of millions of euros. Aviation Connections, along with the Shagrau-Leibovitz Group and Attorney Amir Chen, a prominent partner at the “FBC” law firm, have declared the formation of a new entrepreneurial alliance in the real estate sector in Cyprus. In the context of the partnership, the company intends to acquire approximately 2,000 square meters of land situated on the beachfront and adjacent to the new port under development in Larnaca, to erect an opulent residential and commercial tower.

Media outlets like Coastal Digest have already reported the significant influx of Israeli settlers moving to Cyprus, raising alarms about what analysts refer to as a “silent occupation.” In the wake of Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, Israeli purchasers have rapidly acquired properties throughout the island, while thousands are said to have moved there in search of real estate and to establish enclaves of exclusive luxury resorts and communities designed specifically for wealthy settlers. This trend marks the third significant wave of Israeli migration to Cyprus, propelled by a combination of the consequences of war, economic challenges, and internal political turmoil within Israel. The Coastal Digest report mentions the work of Dimitri Lascaris, an investigative journalist and activist, who is highlighting the rapid real estate purchases in Cyprus by Israelis amid regional turmoil, warning of a deeper agenda. 

Lascaris warns of:

“ an underlying agenda, stating that Cyprus has historically been viewed by Zionist ideologues as a potential site for a Jewish settlement due to its proximity to Israel and suitability for European-style development. Lascaris draws a link to early Zionist ambitions for Cyprus, recalling the Third Zionist Congress of 1899 when David Trietsch and Theodor Herzl both championed Cyprus as a base for Jewish settlement, precursor to claiming Israel itself by force.”

“This migration, which has swelled Cyprus’s Israeli community from 6,500 in 2018 to over 12,000 by April 2024, has sparked an influx of 250-300 Israelis monthly. This quiet but steady stream has led to a larger presence of Israelis in Cyprus, with many pursuing strategic real estate purchases despite legal restrictions. Under Cypriot law, foreign entities can only acquire 500 square meters of land. However, by registering as Northern Cyprus firms and securing at least 51% Turkish Cypriot ownership, Israeli companies can circumvent this rule, enabling them to buy extensive tracts of land.”

“Cyprus’s geopolitical position-close to Israel, with NATO membership and new gas reserves-amplifies the strategic importance of this quiet expansion. Additionally, the island hosts a significant UK military base at Akrotiri, which has served as a launch point for aircraft bound for the Palestinian territories, further heightening the controversy around Israeli-Cypriot connections. Economically, the high cost of living in Israel and divisive internal issues, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial reforms, have also driven migration from the occupied lands. According to a Hebrew-language report by Maariv, the first seven months of 2024 saw an exodus of 40,000 Israeli settlers -nearly triple previous years’ numbers-primarily to Cyprus and other nearby regions.”

VIDEO: Israelis ‘Flooding’ Into Cyprus to ‘Buy Anything In Sight’ (Source: Reason2Resist with Dimitri Lascaris)

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On the Greek Cyprus side of the Island, the increasing number of Israeli investors purchasing real estate has provoked significant public and political opposition. This trend, especially prevalent in the Larnaca and Limassol areas, has led to allegations from opposition leaders that Israel is creating a de facto presence on the island. Concerns are also growing regarding the demographic and geopolitical implications, particularly from the viewpoints of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Residents from the Greek Cypriot Administration and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are questioning whether Israel is engaging in similar tactics in Cyprus as it previously did in Palestine. In recent years, Zionists have acquired tens of thousands of acres of land in the TRNC, leading to the establishment of colonies (settlements) on the island. Additionally, numerous Jews fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and the one in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) have been resettled in Cyprus. 

The Cypriot town of Pyla has become an “unofficial Israeli hub”, and local legislators and mayors alike are now raising the alarm. Greatreporter has the story…

IMAGE: Ultra-Orthodox Jews arrive in Larnaka International Airport, Greek Cyprus, June 2025 (Source: Chabad of Cyprus)

R Powell reports for Greatreporter…

Israel is preparing a ‘backyard’ in Cyprus… This cannot but sound the alarm for us!

As war rages in Gaza and regional escalation with Iran deepens, a quiet but dramatic shift is unfolding just across the Mediterranean. Cyprus, long seen as a neutral tourist haven, is now absorbing thousands of Israeli nationals — many of them settlers, elites, and fleeing civilians — in a wave that is transforming the island’s demography, economy, and politics.

According to Cyprus’s main opposition party, AKEL, this is no ordinary migration. It is, in their words, the construction of “a backyard” — a satellite enclave of Israeli influence, economic power, and potential intelligence infrastructure, rising just beyond the reach of missiles, but still close enough to matter.

“Israeli buyers are purchasing significant land parcels and strategic economic assets,” warned AKEL spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou in June. “They are building Zionist schools, synagogues, gated enclaves… Israel is preparing a backyard in Cyprus, and this cannot but sound the alarm for us.”

A Three-Wave Exodus: From Pandemic to War

The Israeli presence in Cyprus has expanded in three clear waves:

1. The Pandemic Wave (2020–2021):
   During COVID-19, many affluent Israelis fled strict lockdowns and a strained health system for Cyprus’s EU-standard care and relaxed lifestyle. Property sales surged in resort towns like Paphos and Limassol.

1. The Judicial Reform Crisis (2023):
   As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched controversial judicial reforms, mass protests erupted across Israel. Thousands began to hedge their bets — and their real estate — by acquiring homes abroad. Cyprus, just 40 minutes by air, became a popular fallback.

1. The War and Retaliation Wave (2023–2025):
   The most recent and explosive surge began after October 7 and intensified with Iran’s missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa. With air routes disrupted and a growing sense of national vulnerability, thousands fled. According to Chabad Cyprus, over 12,000 Israelis passed through their centers in just 10 days, seeking food, shelter, and emergency repatriation services.

Town-by-Town: A New Geography of Influence

The numbers tell a striking story.

• Limassol: 1,154 Israeli property purchases (511 with title deeds), with heavy clustering in spa and luxury resort areas like Pyla, Ormideia, and Pervolia.
• Paphos: 1,291 property transactions by Israelis, including 867 full title deeds.
• Larnaca: 1,406 purchases (481 deeds), particularly close to the airport and Chabad’s main synagogue in Pyla.

In total, nearly 4,000 Israeli-linked properties have been acquired across southern Cyprus since 2021.

Real-estate consultant Loizos Loizou told Cyprus Mail:

“Israelis tend to buy large land parcels, featuring spas and resorts — gated communities, so to speak. Pyla has become their unofficial hub.”

‘A Second Israel’ — Population Doubling in 5 Years

In 2018, about 6,500 Israeli nationals resided in Cyprus. By mid-2025, that number has more than doubled to approximately 15,000 — and growing. This includes entire families, business owners, and settlers fleeing West Bank outposts amid regional instability.

Chabad reports show that:

“More than 12,000 Israeli Jews passed through our six houses in 10 days during the Iran crisis,” said Rabbi Zeev Raskin. “Many of them had no plans to return.”

Locals Alarmed: ‘Land Doesn’t Belong to Us Anymore’

AKEL’s fears are not limited to real estate. In their June address, the party highlighted national security, economic justice, and cultural sovereignty:

“At some point, we’ll discover our own land doesn’t belong to us,” said Stefanu. “These are not just holiday homes. These are settlements in all but name.”

 The pattern is familiar. Enclaves emerge. Locals are priced out. Infrastructure — synagogues, kosher supermarkets, private schools — is built quickly. The same settler-colonial template used in the West Bank now appears to be taking root in places like Pyla and Limassol.

Cypriot media outlets, including Politis and Cyprus Mail, have published growing numbers of investigative reports about gated communities, property speculation, and political pressure to crack down on Golden Visa abuse.

Strategic Concerns: Mossad, RAF Bases, and Foreign Control

Security experts have also raised concerns. A Haaretz exposé recently confirmed that Israeli intelligence agencies are active in Cyprus, using the island for “safehouse operations” and staging points. Cyprus also hosts RAF Akrotiri, a major British military base used for reconnaissance missions over Gaza, further complicating the geopolitical picture.

In Turkish-administered Northern Cyprus, land purchases by Israelis have been drastically restricted, with authorities imposing new regulations. But in Greek-administered areas, no such constraints exist, and bilateral agreements between Cyprus and Israel are shielding the real estate boom from meaningful oversight.

“Cyprus cannot afford to become a forward operating base for another state,” one European security official warned. “It risks destabilising the island and compromising its neutrality.”

Faith, Flight, and a Fading Zionist Dream

At the heart of this phenomenon lies a powerful contradiction: If Israel is a divine homeland, why are its people abandoning it?

Many of the Israelis relocating to Cyprus are not rejecting Zionism — they’re exporting it. They bring with them the ideologies, infrastructure, and investment strategies that have transformed Palestine into a patchwork of enclaves. And now, as they take root in Cyprus, many locals fear they are watching the early stages of a new settler project.

The Israeli state is doing everything it can to reverse the trend. El Al has launched discounted repatriation flights. Media campaigns appeal to patriotism. But many have tasted the safety, prosperity, and freedom of life abroad. And they are not coming back.

“We tried to go to Israel by yacht, by helicopter,” said one Israeli evacuee to The National. “But Cyprus just felt safer. For now, we’ll stay.”

A Nation at a Crossroads

What began as a trickle of Israeli tourism has become a full-blown demographic shift. What some once called a “second home” now feels like a “second Israel.” And for Cyprus, a country still grappling with its own partition and history of foreign interference, the warning signs are clear.

As Stefanos Stefanou put it:

“This cannot but sound the alarm for us. We must ask — are we selling homes, or are we selling sovereignty?”

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