Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Işıksal, a faculty member at Near East University's Department of International Relations, assessed Israel's increasing real estate purchases in the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) as a 'silent occupation'. In his analysis penned for Anadolu Agency (AA), Işıksal stressed that behind this strategy lies the struggle for hegemony in the Eastern Mediterranean.
From Strategic Partnership to Dependency
Prof. Dr. Işıksal stated that relations between the GCA and Israel turned into a strategic partnership after the 2010 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Agreement. He noted that energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, tensions with Turkey following Israel's genocide in Gaza, and the GCA being made dependent on Israel under US leadership were instrumental in this transformation.
Işıksal recorded that this dependency was reinforced by joint projects such as handing over airports to Mossad control, arms purchases, LNG projects, and the EuroAsia Interconnector electricity line. He said that plans by Greece, Israel, and the GCA to form a 'rapid reaction force' against the Turkish side in the Eastern Mediterranean showed the extreme point this alliance has reached.
Property Purchases and the Silent Occupation Strategy
Işıksal noted that economic, military, and political dependency triggered Israeli citizens' real estate purchases in the GCA, especially in coastal and strategic areas, and said that tens of thousands of Jews have settled in the GCA since October 7. He stated that this move, carried out with state coordination, should be read as Israel's desire to control the Eastern Mediterranean trade route, encircle Turkey, and increase its power on the island of Cyprus.
Prof. Işıksal emphasized that Israel aims to have a direct say in energy pipelines and port projects by increasing its property and infrastructure ownership. He also noted that through this alliance, Israel primarily seeks to prevent the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and disregard the natural resource rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, and then to establish absolute dominance over the reserves that would remain with the central government under a federal solution.
The Goal of Turning Cyprus into a Logistics Base and Backyard
Işıksal stated that another aim of Israel is to create strategic depth by transforming the island of Cyprus into a logistics base and geopolitical backyard, thus planning to use Cyprus for shelter, supply, evacuation, and intelligence activities in its military operations in the Middle East and other regions.
Reminding that Israel's expansion attempts in some strategic areas of the TRNC caused discomfort among the Turkish Cypriot people and were prevented to some extent by the measures taken, Işıksal said this situation played a role in making South Cyprus the new destination for Israeli citizens.
Silence on the Greek Cypriot Side and Domestic Reactions
Işıksal noted that the Greek Cypriot leadership remained silent in the face of Israel's 'covert occupation' and drew attention to the harsh reactions of the main opposition party AKEL and the free press. He reported that Greek Cypriot newspapers ran headlines such as 'Israelis are using Cyprus as a backyard' and 'Cyprus is like the promised land'. He stated that AKEL questioned what GCA leader Nikos Christodoulides 'owes' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the discourse that 'sovereignty is being transferred to Israel'.
He recorded that, in addition to discussions that Israelis' increasing real estate purchases were putting Greek Cypriot citizens in a difficult situation by raising housing prices, Israel's efforts to position South Cyprus as a strategic base within the European Union (EU), company acquisitions, and transparency issues in citizenship practices also frequently appeared in the press.
Dangerous Alliance and Threat to Turkey
Emphasizing that the Greek Cypriot side's hostility towards Turks and the 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' mentality created an 'unholy' and dangerous Greek-Jewish alliance, Işıksal stated that this danger threatens not only the Turkish side but also the Greek Cypriot people.
Işıksal stated that the perception of negotiations that emerged after United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit to the island further motivated the Israeli government, and that Israel's intensive property purchases are not limited to controlling trade routes and establishing a logistics base, but also aim to be used as a strategic pressure element to eliminate Turkey's 'Blue Homeland' doctrine and the TRNC.
Işıksal noted that Israel's property purchase strategy, which will make its effectiveness in the Eastern Mediterranean permanent, shows that the Cyprus issue is a critical intersection point of the global and regional hegemony war. He therefore underlined that the TRNC must live forever with Turkey's guarantorship.
