Disy and Akel clash over protest during Israeli president’s Cyprus visit

Nicosia, Cyprus. Disy accused Akel of allowing “ideological entanglements” to shape its approach to foreign policy after the party supported a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Cyprus.

The dispute followed Herzog’s meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday, held as a demonstration took place outside the presidential palace.

Disy’s position

In a statement on Friday, Disy said Cyprus has a “strategic partnership” with Israel in energy, defence and security, and said Akel’s support for the protest reflected a broader pattern in its public positions on relations with Israel.

“Unfortunately, Akel continues to approach critical foreign policy issues through the prism of ideological entanglements and not with the strategic interests of Cyprus in mind,” Disy said.

The party said it opposed any approach that could alter Cyprus’ “Western and European orientation” or call into question its partnership with Israel. It said Cyprus should remain “a reliable interlocutor with everyone”.

Disy said foreign policy should be based on the country’s interests, geopolitical realities and the need to strengthen Cyprus’ European and regional role, rather than ideological constraints.

Akel response

Akel secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou rejected Disy’s criticism, saying support for international law was not an ideological position.

He accused Disy of defending the government’s actions while avoiding condemnation of what Akel described as Israel’s “genocidal policy”.

Akel asked whether opposition to the colonisation of the West Bank constituted ideological entanglement, and whether being a reliable interlocutor meant remaining silent over what it described as crimes taking place.

The party said credibility required consistency in principles, particularly when these principles were the main protection for nations against the Turkish occupation.