Pyrpolizer wrote:Robin Hood wrote:I have always found it strange that Cypriots do not see the similarities between events in 1974 and what has been going on in Palestine from 1948 and continues to this day!
The Cypriots are not blind RH. This sentiment was very clear after the 1974 Invasion and in fact we hosted Palestinian refugees many times here. It looks however the Palestinians themselves have already submitted to their fate waiting for their final extinction. Not much anyone can do for them, no matter how sympathetic he could be.
in fact our relations with Israel were just at the absolute typical level albeit we always had the headache of their embassy in Nicosia (it's now behind the Ex-Mitsubushi traffic lights) where the prices of land and buildings dropped down to near zero because of the risk. You know it's been heavily bombed twice in the past and innocent Cypriots died.
It's only recently that this Anastasiades Govnt elevated our relations with Israel at this level even to the point of doing joint military exercises and offering them free use of our Air and sea space. Notice they offer the same things to the Russians,presumably to earn some postponement in paying the money they lend us during the crisis. It looks our Govnt is totally confused and the people more confused than their own Govnt. I have always regarded Israel as nothing other than a geographic piece of land which could also be called Palestine or by any of its previous names. However, I see those that weild the power, not as just being Jews but of being Zionists. There are still those that believe these are the same. My beef with 'Israel' is the Zionist system and the way it is repeating the very Holocaust they use to gain the Worlds sympathy for their plight 70 years ago and now apply it with impunity to those whose land they occupy and who they starve and torture, just like the Nazi's did to their people in the Warsaw Ghetto. And the rest of the
'civilised' World says nothing.
I totally agree. Let this be my answer to Paphitis' praising Israel at all times:
This is the historical map of how the Zionists created their State. It's all stealing of lands, ethnic cleansing, murder, and colonizing .
https://icahd.org/2016/09/15/judaizing- ... gle-state/
They also apply pressure to nearly every Jew all over the world to settle in Israel. They populated this weird state with Jews they brought from Africa to as far away as Russia, Canada, the US ... from everywhere else you can imagine. They have a strong community in Larnaca where they organize weekly parties, and a camp near Ahna Dam for vocations
The only map that is valid in that link of yours is the third one from 1949 to 1967. That was the dejure and legal creation of the Israeli State which most countries recognise.
The final map post 1967 is the map whereby Israel is building illegal settlements in the West Bank, which isn't recognised by hardly anyone, including the USA. In other words, the settlements are illegal.
But you need to ask yourself why Israel actually took over the West Bank, Golan Heights and Sinai. They took over because they were going to be invaded and driven to the sea. The same threats against Israel are being made today by Iran, Hezbollah and Hamaz which are funded by Iran and armed to the teeth. The Israelis have no choice but to go on an offensive in Syria.
As to going back to the 1967 status, Israel has been willing to do that in the past. Not so much Netanyahu, because his supporter group is the religious right but all other Israeli Governments have been far more accommodating. There has been a willingness (especially with the PLO), but Iran has been unwilling to recognise the Israeli State. In fact, they insist on driving the Jews into the Sea. Well that is not going to end well for Iran.
If Israel is ever attacked by Iran and faced with the prospect of defeat, then we have WW3. That is the red line here. The West will come to Israel's aid. It won't ever get that far because the Israeli's will not just sit around doing nothing. They will just keep chipping away as you can see in Syria.
And Russia will run a mile. it will abandon Iran. have you noticed how the Russians have steered well clear whenever any Israeli action takes place in Syria. That's because they know and can see the writing on the wall.
As to our alliance with Israel. It makes absolute sense. Israel and Cypriot interests overlap with the resources in the Mediterranean. Without Israel, the Cyprus Government will never be able to exploit the resources in its EEZ. In fact, Israel is the country that gives Turkey some pause and food for thought as to the consequences because Cyprus and Israel now have security arrangements. Not just this, but there are American Gas companies involved as well as some Israeli, French, Italian, and Dutch companies. So as you can see, things are not that easy for Turkey now.
make no mistake, might equals right. We are seeing this in the South China Sea (very relevant to Cyprus) where a big country is basically trying to steal the EEZ of other neighbouring countries, and hence also steal any resources, and fishing stocks. The thing that is spearheading the push back there is the USA with the neighbouring countries.
In Cyprus case, let's be very honest and accept that the push back against Turkey is actually ISRAEL. And hence it will be the USA also which will not be messed with by Turkey over its little piece of Cyprus EEZ. And this is what is required. If the USA is there, then Italy will make its stand too. The French will do it all on their own as they are not scared of Turkey at all, and they don't need the Yanks to make a point.
The other thing that is beneficial, is the geographic proximity. Israel needs Cyprus to train its pilots in the Cyprus and Greek FIR. They actually love going up against the Greek and Cypriot military. last year, the Israelis sent their Special Forces to Cyprus. Do you understand how beneficial that is to Cyprus? Cyprus has also bought 4 SAAR 4.5 Offshore Patrol Boats which can be armed with Gabriel SSM (also Harpoon).
This is a breakthrough in CNG capability thanks to the Israelis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa'ar_4.5 ... ssile_boathttp://www.israel-shipyards.com/naval-001.aspIt suits Cyprus to be friends with Israel and this brings Cyprus closer to NATO, ANZUS, USA, Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, and also Australia. Yes through Israel, there are many things can can happen for Cyprus.
Israel isn't the evil country you seem to think. Take a look at Iran and its provocations. There can never be peace as long as this continues. If Iran goes too far, it will have the West to contend with too.