IAF president calls Turkey a shared adversary as Cyprus MPs launch pro-Israel group
Six MPs from Disy, Elam and Diko formed a parliamentary group to strengthen cooperation with Israel, as IAF president Josh Reinstein highlighted shared interests and adversaries.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) president Josh Reinstein described Turkey as an adversary shared by Cyprus and Israel on Wednesday, when six Cypriot MPs established a pro-Israel parliamentary group.
Three parties represented in new group
The initiative was formally inaugurated at the House on Wednesday to advance cooperation with Israel at parliamentary level. Its members are Disy MPs George Karoullas and Charalambos Petrides, Elam MPs Sotiris Ioannou and Marios Pelekanos, and Diko MPs Andreas Apostolou and Chrysis Pantelidis. Pantelidis will head the Cyprus chapter.
Those attending included Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, Israeli ambassador Sully Davidovich, US ambassador John Breslow, former president Nicos Anastasiades and Diko leader Nikolas Papadopoulos.
Pantelides said the initiative underlined the significance of parliamentary diplomacy and collaboration among countries whose interests align.
Reinstein highlights regional cooperation
Reinstein spoke after members of the new group and an IAF delegation met President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace.
He said the foundation had timed the establishment of parliamentary groups in Greece on Tuesday and in Cyprus on Wednesday to emphasise cooperation involving those two countries, Israel and the United States.
According to Reinstein, attention often centred on Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood as shared adversaries. He said the countries also had economic interests in common and scope for joint work, including on undersea fibre-optic cables.
Ambassador stresses lasting ties
In her first public comments since assuming her role, Davidovich said the relationship between Cyprus and Israel had grown stronger and more resilient, while becoming increasingly significant to each country.
She said governments provided the foundations for relations, while parliamentarians, leaders of civil society, religious organisations and other participants helped create ties capable of enduring across generations.
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