Nasrallah’s Threats to Cyprus… “Leadership” Quiet
There was no change on Cyprus Street after Lebanese Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah warned against opening Cypriot airports and airspace to Israel in the event of an Israeli war on Lebanon. An enemy.” In Larnaca, especially on the lively Finikoudes beach, people were divided between the sea and shopping at the “Panieri” summer festival, cafes and restaurants. But this indifference to Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus did not extend to all sections of society, as Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Limbiotis concluded in a written statement to the media. , immediately affirmed that “Cyprus is part of the solution”. Yesterday, he said, his country’s diplomatic brand is “a reliable factor of stability and a recognized regional hub for humanitarian operations”. He stressed that he “does not want to be involved in any way in the ongoing war” and that he “believes it should be part of the solution and not part of the problem” in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Abdullah on Thursday evening.
Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus… a gap between the street and the politicians
There is a gap between Cyprus’ foreign policy and the street, which can be felt from direct contact with people from different communities in the same city regarding Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus. While Al Jazeera’s diplomatic channels were responding to media threats through their own media platforms, sixty-year-old Prajai B. denied the allegations made by Hezbollah’s leader. Yuanyu flips through his newspaper in a cafe by the sea, which contains a picture of Nasrallah and his statements. Asked by al-Arabi al-Jadeed about the words of the Secretary General of Hezbollah, he shook his head and said: “The government of Cyprus does not know balance in a region full of tensions and almost relies on Europe. I have no problem with Palestinians, look at the beach, there are Jews hanging around too, this is Cyprus, they are not with anyone! The person continued: “A decade ago Cyprus experienced war and lives under threat from the policies of the ruling right-wing capitalist government, which cares more about its interests than the interests of the people. Finally, there was the migrant problem, and today, it is a regional problem and it awaits a solution from Europe.”
On the beach, the young men, in their twenties, were speaking in Greek, but crossing words in English and Arabic to confirm that they were from different nations. When al-Arabi al-Jadeed asked about the possibility of war after Nasrallah’s threat to Cyprus, a young woman among them replied: “Until the last time, we can stay at sea, even if it rains, we will. Go back to our homes!” For her part, her friend replied: “Families fear that they might be near places of Israeli activity in Cyprus, such as shops, festivals and events. But in general, nothing indicates war. A young Cypriot boy interrupted her, saying, “We are all peaceful. We want to be, but Israel doesn’t want that, and neither do its enemies.”
Cyprus Researcher: British bases in Cyprus are also under Israel’s service
However, Cypriot writer Anastasis Pissourios seems to have a different view of Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus than the public in some streets of Larnaca, the social segment in Cyprus that supports the Palestinian cause. A researcher and translator told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed: “No” Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus are of great concern because it does not realize any political risks from its relations with Israel.” Pisorius, who is interested in Middle East issues, Nasrallah’s words are “very serious, and he has his “Protects interests, and in my opinion they are right.” He continued: “Everybody has to take their responsibilities. The government has demonstrated through its actions that it strongly supports Israel’s interests, and this will have negative consequences whether we like it or not. I think Nasrallah doesn’t play the political game like a European. Union, we are talking about a leader who is well aware of the dangers of the Middle East saying one thing and doing another,” he described.
In the wake of Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus, the British newspaper The Guardian reported yesterday that Israel and Cyprus are exchanging intelligence and increasing military ties. Two years ago, the Israeli military used Cyprus to conduct military exercises simulating the fighting in Lebanon, which reportedly involved the largest number of troops deployed by Israel abroad. The exercises focused on possible invasion tactics, as the island was chosen for the exercises due to its similarity to Lebanon’s terrain (only in terms of its small area). Last year, the armed forces of both countries conducted military exercises on the island “in response to particularly difficult operational situations”. According to The Guardian, Cyprus has allowed Israel to use its airspace to conduct exercises simulating an Iranian attack on Israel, although it is not known to provide any ground facilities or bases to the Israeli military.
Responses to Nasrallah’s Threats to Cyprus
For his part, Khalid Murtaja, a Palestinian-Cypriot activist, told al-Arabi al-Jadeed that the responses to Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus are: I first started with the Cypriot ambassador to Israel, Cornelius Corneliou, where he said “we can respond” and “I think there is some urgency in his statements, the statements of the Cypriot president, including his complete denial of Nasrallah’s accusations, and then carry a lot of panic and fear… non-Cypriot military He also pointed out that the use of Cypriot airports for the transit of aid through the Cypriot waterway has led to rumors of dubious destinations, “because of the succession of presidents from the previous president to the current president, Nicosia is responsible for it,” he continued. “I believe it is necessary for Cyprus to return to its normal state, align itself with the legitimate causes it has supported for decades, and move away from being loyal to and advocating for the occupation.”
Khaled Murtaja: The Cypriot political position has become blatantly loyal to the Israeli occupation and maintains excellent relations with the Israelis.
He recalled that a large section of Cyprus Street had organized many events, demonstrations and protests against the British presence in Cyprus and using its military bases established in Cyprus as a launching pad to launch attacks, attacks or whatever. There may be doubts that those bases could be used against targets in the region, especially during the Second Gulf War, today in the war on Gaza, so I am not surprised that someone like Hassan Nasrallah sends his statements to Cyprus, as Cyprus Street is already provoking and resenting these provisions. There is a need to control these sites and prevent them from being the starting point for launching attacks on him. He continued: “Furthermore, in the last ten years, or two periods, the current President Nicos Christodoulides and the previous term of former President Nicos Anastasiades, both of which were right-wing periods, Cyprus has witnessed. The major change in the Cypriot political position was one of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and even the people, and today this position has turned into the opposite, as it has become blatantly loyal to the Israeli occupation. The Israelis left the door wide open for military maneuvers until yesterday in Paphos, which witnessed such maneuvers.
At this time, Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus were being communicated in political circles in Cyprus. On the Cypriot radio station “Filinnews”, international law professor Michalis Kondos confirmed that “it is not possible that Cyprus will be attacked by Hezbollah”, explaining that this does not mean that the current situation is reassuring, and that this is not the first time. Israel and Hezbollah clashed, and today is the first time that Cyprus’s relations with Israel have grown to this level.
The AKEL (Communist) party, which is known for its pro-Palestinian stances, said in a statement issued yesterday, “The consistent stance of AKIL is that the country’s foreign policy should be based on international law and safeguarding peace.” And with all countries, especially in the Mediterranean, far from the logic of militarization and geopolitical curves. “Cyprus must be a bridge of peace and cooperation, not a war base or a training ground for foreign forces,” he stressed. “Cyprus’ struggle is aimed at removing foreign forces from our island, not to burden others. The presence of any foreign army on the island does not add security to our people, but increases dangers and enemies,” he stressed.
AKEL Party: It is the duty and interest of Cyprus to have no involvement in the warmongering programs adopted by the Israeli government and its allies.
He added: “Today, as the details of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians emerge, the Netanyahu government plans to expand the war to include the entire region, which is Cyprus’ duty and interest. Among the war-mongering plans adopted by the Israeli government and its allies.” The Communist Party continued: “The Republic of Cyprus calls upon the United Nations and European countries to add its voice to the call for an end to the genocide and bloodshed in Gaza and the establishment of a final peace with a solution to the Palestinian issue. The basis of the United Nations resolutions is a firm position of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the participation of British bases in Israeli military operations.” What is needed is the security of our homeland and our people, international law and basic moral principles dictate to us the bloody Palestinian people.
For its part, the Democratic Alliance Party (DIPA) condemned Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus, saying that Cyprus, “as the President of the Republic emphasized, does not participate in any way in military conflicts, on the contrary, it actively participates in humanitarian aid efforts.” He added: “Competent authorities must be proactive, vigilant and take all appropriate measures to protect the nation and its citizens.” Nasrallah’s threats to Cyprus were the focus of a meeting between the police chief and Justice and Public Order Minister Mario Charsiotis. Sargiodis pointed out that the police are carrying out strict security measures in critical areas. In Europe, EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said any threat against Cyprus or other member states is a threat against the EU.
