“Education and strengthening the identity of the Jewish people all around the world is an issue of importance to the State of Israel, and to me as its ambassador,” Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik told JNS on Tuesday.
Speaking in Limassol on the sidelines of the third annual International Yael Foundation Conference, Anolik praised the foundation’s efforts to encourage Jewish education.
“The work that the Yael Foundation is doing is a very important work at any time, but especially in this current time,” he said.
More than 200 Jewish thought leaders converged on Limassol, Cyprus, for the event, which runs from Feb. 3-5 and is titled, “Education and Beyond.” The conference brings together attendees from 37 countries to discuss advancing Jewish education and addressing its most pressing challenges, especially in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to come here to see the wonderful work they’re doing, congratulate them and speak with some of the people here,” Anolik told JNS.
The Yael Foundation launched its flagship project in Limassol last year: a Jewish education campus that will soon welcome 1,500 children.
While the State of Israel isn’t directly involved in the project, “If there’s any kind of an issue vis-a-vis the authority of Cyprus, we of course will be more than happy to see how we can help facilitate in this regard,” said Anolik. He noted however that “it seems to me that things are going quite smoothly.”
Last month, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) banned Israeli airlines from landing at Paphos International Airport in southwestern Cyprus due to unspecified security concerns.
While there was nothing Anolik could add by way of explanation for the move, he noted that flights to Cyprus had not been halted.
“We need to be accurate about what was announced and published. It was announced that the flights of Israeli airlines to Cyprus were consolidated into one airport, which is Larnaca, due to some security considerations,” he continued.
He emphasized that there was no travel advisory in place for Cyprus, and that the flight restrictions are “supposed to be a temporary measure until this security element, that is being looked into, is clarified.”
With regard to his own security and that of the embassy, Anolik said he felt it was in very good hands, and that there was good cooperation with Cypriot police and authorities.
He did note that security measures had been upgraded in the wake of the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel.
“I know that Cyprus police are also aware of the needs of the Jewish community here and are also trying to supply adequate measures in this regard as much as they can,” he continued.
The embassy, he said, was “not part of this discussion. This is between the community and the government.” However, he emphasized that the embassy stood ready to provide assistance if asked.
“Once again, we are always here to facilitate, assist or help with communication if required, because we also attach importance to the security of the community,” he said.
According to the ambassador, Cyprus’s Jewish community is currently estimated at 15,000 to 18,000 people, mostly Israelis. However, he said he was not in favor of more emigration from the Jewish state.
“I strongly believe that Israelis should remain in Israel and be part of the miracle of the renewal of the Jewish people in its own land,” he said.
Asked what attracts Israelis to the island nation, Anolik said that in his view it was a combination of factors, among them being the short distance between the two countries, which can be covered in a 45-minute flight.
“Many of the Israelis that come here feel that they haven’t really left Israel. It’s so close that they can hop over and visit Israel whenever they want, so they feel a little bit like being in both places at the same time,” he said.
Another factor in his view is simply Cyprus itself. “You feel at ease in Cyprus, it’s a welcoming place,” he said. Real estate prices are also lower than in the Jewish state, he noted.
“Whether it’s the price of real estate, the excellent weather conditions, the opportunities they may find in real estate or high tech, it’s a combination of things,” he said. “But once again, I would like to see Israelis stay in Israel.”