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Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu felt the urge to state the obvious – that in the hell-hole of the Middle East, Israel feels that Cyprus is a true friend. And why shouldn’t it be?
Cyprus has on numerous occasions, almost with all Presidents of the Republic, offered assistance, mediation and even the grounds for shuttle diplomacy between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Before that, it tolerated the use of force during several waves of uprisings, as long as the end justified the means.
On a security level, Cyprus and its tiny naval and air services, have been active in search and rescue exercises and operations off the island’s coast, while it has on occasion tolerated the fly-over of Israeli fighter jets.
All because the Jewish state had a falling out with Turkey and has been desperately trying to cling on to a new ally, much closer to home than Washington or London.
Once the long-delayed Cyprus casino resort gets underway and opens its doors to international clientele, will Israeli gamblers and holidaymakers have turned their back on Turkey for good?
More importantly, Israeli needs to share the pipeline whereby it will send its offshore natural gas to Egypt for processing and onwards for export, but has been hinting that all’s not over as regards its (energy) ties with Turkey, with which it still shares military and other cooperation, either directly or via Ankara’s satellite Azerbaijan.
Despite the declarations of sharing “common values, concerns and visions”, it is Israel that needs to show its true friendship towards Cyprus, not the other way round. This tiny island has given all that it has and can. It has opened its doors to Israeli tourists and investors. We host numerous hi-tech and forex companies, all set up with Israeli funds or knowhow.
Perhaps Netanyahu does not possess the political finesse or sensitivity needed, but instead of declaring his friendship, which others have in the past described as “brotherly”, he should have posed the question: What can WE do for YOU?
Gas pipelines, trade and security are natural parts of good neighbourhood policy. But is that enough?
Is it not time that in the search for regional stability, this “friendship” be upgraded to “partnership”? Unless, of course, Israel has not given up on its old “friendship” with Turkey.
