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Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus issued a strong statement on Wednesday, voicing concern over what he described as a rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric in public discourse on the island in recent days.
Ambassador Oren Anolik warned that such language poses a real threat to democracy and social cohesion. “What threatens democracy is not diversity, but the spread of intolerant myths targeting entire communities,” he said. “This is not an expression of political opinion; it is hate speech.”
Anolik praised Cyprus for its democratic values, highlighting the country’s legal protections for residency, religious freedom, and education for all. “These are strengths, not concessions,” he noted.
The ambassador emphasized the long-standing friendship between Cyprus and Israel, saying it is built on mutual respect and not shaken by political differences. Instead, he said, it is “hatred and prejudice” that pose the real danger to bilateral ties.
He also acknowledged and thanked the many Cypriots who have spoken out against the rise in hateful rhetoric. His statement concluded with a call for “all responsible voices in public life to condemn the language of anti-Semitism, the spread of fear and collective demonization, with clarity, determination, and without doubt.”
