Christodoulides and Aipac delegation pledge closer Cyprus-US-Israel ties

Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides hosted representatives of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) on Wednesday at the presidential palace. Both sides committed to deepening ties among Cyprus, Israel and the United States.

Talks and commemoration

Outgoing Aipac president Dr Bernard Kaminetsky headed the delegation alongside president-elect Yehuda Neuberger. They reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Cyprus’ interests in Washington.

Discussions reportedly addressed the Cyprus issue, alongside efforts to advance the 3+1 mechanism linking Cyprus, Greece and Israel with the United States.

Delegation members also took part in a ceremony in Nicosia commemorating Jewish refugees and children whose births took place between 1946 and 1949 at what was then a British military hospital.

Parliamentary groups draw criticism

Six MPs recently established a Cyprus branch of the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF). Diko’s participants were Andreas Apostolou and Chrysis Pantelides; Disy’s were George Karoullas and Charalambos Petrides; and Elam’s were Sotiris Ioannou and Marios Pelekanos.

MPs representing those same parties had established a Cyprus branch of Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) two weeks before that.

Akel described the move as “extremely provocative”, accusing the three parties of making parliament a lobbying platform for Israel.

Aipac’s origins and reach

Aipac is a US-based pro-Israel lobbying organisation promoting policies intended to reinforce relations between the United States and Israel.

Isaiah L Kenen, who worked as a lobbyist for the Israeli government, founded it in 1954 under the name American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs.

The organisation is regarded as being among the United States’ most influential lobbying groups. It reports a membership exceeding five million and a network of 17 regional offices.