Disy challenges Akel over criticism of pro-Israel parliamentary group

Nicosia, Cyprus. Disy has challenged Akel over its opposition to a pro-Israel parliamentary group established on Wednesday, asking whether the party preferred to align itself with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Turkey.

Dispute over relations with Israel

Akel had described the group’s establishment as highly provocative, arguing that parliament should not act as a lobbying vehicle for the interests of another state.

Responding to that criticism, Disy called on Akel to apologise for seeking to isolate Cyprus and accused it of being unable to accept the country’s Western alignment. It argued that ideological fixations within Akel should not take precedence over Cyprus’ security or its international standing.

Disy described closer ties with Israel as a strategic decision and said it backed participation by its MPs in initiatives advancing that relationship. It maintained that Cyprus, as a country under Turkish occupation, required robust international backing and representation in forums where decisions concerning it were taken.

The party also disputed the idea that support for Palestinians meant restricting cooperation internationally, characterising that argument as a false equivalence. It said national interests would continue to determine its efforts to develop partnerships.

Questions over alleged Soviet links

Disy also said Akel had yet to respond to allegations concerning funding and surveillance. It questioned whether the party had spent decades functioning as a covert satellite of the Soviet Union.

That allegation concerns reporting by the daily Simerini, which published material on Sunday drawn from declassified records of the communist party’s central committee.

According to the newspaper, the records showed that Cypriot students studying in the USSR had raised tens of thousands of rubles. Simerini said the money was subsequently converted and channelled through the KGB.