Comparing Cyprus and Israel

Sir,
I am writing in response to the letter by Panos Gregory (‘Ethnic separation: a recipe for conflict’, Tuesday, February 22).

Israel has never prevented its citizens of Palestinian origin to live where they wish. Indeed, Palestinians live throughout Israel, even as neighbours to Jews, and together we are all Israeli citizens. The current security situation in Israel cannot be compared to Cyprus, however, as there are several large terrorist organisations operating in Palestinian areas, hiding among Palestinians, and financially supported by other neighbouring countries who wish to destroy Israel. Cyprus is not faced with the threat of such large scale terrorism.

Mr Gregory is misinformed about Israeli democracy. Israel is one of the few democracies in our region, and became a democracy long before Cyprus was given its independence. Our Knesset (parliament) has Palestinian MPs representing Palestinian parties and interests. However, the same cannot be said for Turkish Cypriots who are not yet afforded the basic right to vote or return to their homes (Arif case) in the “free” area of Cyprus.

Furthermore, Israel reserves the right to defend itself from attack, but has never economically isolated the Palestinians in the way Turkish Cypriots are effectively closed off to the world until they give in to Greek demands.

Eyal Rozenbaum, Haifa, Israel

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.