Israel’s Entry to Colonial Cyprus
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Published
Dec 31, 2020
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Abstract
The article provides an account of events describing the actions of the Israeli diplomatic service aiming to promote political ties with Britain and the British authorities in Colonial Cyprus, during the first years of the 1950s. Based upon Israeli diplomatic documents of that period, the article describes the tensions between Israel and Britain, the Israeli diplomatic initiatives leading to the opening of the Israeli General Consulate in Nicosia, the efforts for the revival of the local Jewish institutions and the role of Israeli entrepreneurs, enabling the consolidation of their country’s presence on neighbouring British soil.
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Keywords
colonial Cyprus, Israel, foreign policy, international relations, Israeli foreign policy, British foreign policy, 1950s
References
Primary Sources
Israel State Archives (ISA) - Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
ISA/RG93/MFA/8692/3
ISA/RG93/MFA/8692/4
ISA/RG93/MFA/2155/4
ISA/RG93/MFA/2155/10
ISA/RG93/MFA/2156/3
ISA/RG130/MFA/2584/11
Monographs and Publications
Atun, Ata ‘Initiative to Colonise Cyprus with Jews in the 20th Century’ (2011) 3(3) International Journal of Academic Research 790 – 794 available at
https://www.docdroid.net/lYhTArF/initiatives-to-colonise-cyprus-with-jews-pdf
Ben Artzi, Yossi ‘Historical Perspectives on Jewish Rural Settlement in Cyprus 1899-1939’ in Giorgos Kazamias, Giorgos Antoniou (eds.) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus, 2015) 13-17
Ben Gurion, David The Country’s Problems. Israel’s Foreign Policy ('בעיות של המדינה. מדיניות החוץ של ישראל') (Jerusalem: Sherutey ha’Modiin, 1951) (in Hebrew).
David Tidhar (ed.), Encyclopaedia of the Yeshuv Pioneers and Builders (אנציקלופדיה לחלוצי היישוב ובוניו) (5) 2288 (Tel Aviv: 1952) (in Hebrew) available at http://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/5/2288
Haritos, Gabriel ‘Cyprus, the Neighbouring Island. The Cyprus Issue in the State Archives of Israel’ (‘Κύπρος, το Γειτονικό Νησί. Το Κυπριακό μέσα από τα Κρατικά Αρχεία του Ισραήλ’) (2nd edn Athens: Papazisis, 2020).
Mathopoulou, Evangelia ‘Pioneers in a Stagnant Economy: The Jews in British Cyprus, 1899-1939’ in Giorgos Kazamias, Giorgos Antoniou (eds.) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus, 2015) 39-41.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00263200802547693
Lowenberg, Helmuth ‘Israel’ (1950) 51 American Jewish Year Book 389-406 available at http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1950_14_Israel.pdf
Rodan, Yadin ‘The Forgotten Jews of Cyprus’ (July-August 2001) Eretz Magazine 26-36 available at http://www.eretz.com/NEW/article/Cyprus%20jews.pdf
Seltenreich, Yair and Yossi Katz ‘Between the Galilee and its Neighbouring Isle: Jules Rosenheck and the JCA Settlements in Cyprus, 1897-1928’ (2009) 45(1) Middle Eastern Studies, 87-109 available at
Shub, Louis ‘Israel’ (1950) 51 American Jewish Year Book 379-389 available at http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1950_14_Israel.pdf
Weinstein, Menachem Religious Zionism in the Outskirts of the Land of Israel – ‘Ha’Avodah’ Movement at the Cyprus Detention Camps. (ציונות דתית בשולי ארץ ישראל. תמועת העבודה במחנות המעצר בקפריסין') (Nir Galim: Beit ha’Edot le-Moreshet ha’Tzionut ha’Datit ve ha’Shoa, 2001), 150 – 170
News Paper Articles
English
Rodan, Yadin ‘The Forgotten Jews of Cyprus’ (July-August 2001) Eretz Magazine 26-36 available at http://www.eretz.com/NEW/article/Cyprus%20jews.pdf
‘Commons Postpones Palestine Debate; Bevin Announces Cyprus Detainees to Be Freed’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XVI(15) (New York NY: 19 January 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/32P5AMf
‘Last Jewish DP’s Leave Cyprus; British Soldiers Shout ‘Shalom’ in Enthusiastic Farewell’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XVI (35) (New York NY: 11 February 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/2YZ6Pah
‘Dr. Mordechai Eliash, Israel Envoy to Britain, Dies. Burial to Take Place in Jerusalem’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XXVII(49) (New York NY: 13 March 1950) 6 available at https://bit.ly/32UwUbI
‘150 Jews turned back from Israel’ Cyprus Mail (Nicosia: 12 January1951).
Hebrew
‘King of England to receive Israel’s chargé d’affaires’ ('המלך האנגלי יקבל את ציר ישראל'), Ha’Tzofeh (Tel Aviv, 10 June 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/2EHYmle
‘Britain recognised de jure the State of Israel and the Annexation’ (בריטניה הכירה דה-יורה בישראל ובסיפוח') Davar (Tel Aviv, 28 April 1950) 1 available at https://bit.ly/3bi1SOY
Levita, T. ‘The First Day of the Israeli Consulate in Cyprus – Family of Jewish immigrants requested entry visa to Israel, Patients Want to Be Cured by Our Doctors – Y. Yaron’s Duties in Moddle East’s Monitoring Centre’ ('היום הראשון בקונסוליית ישראל בקפריסין – משפחת עולים מבקשת וויזות, חולים רוצים להתרפא אצל רופאינו – תפקידי י. ירון במרכז התככים שמזרח התיכון') Maariv (Tel Aviv, 17 September 1950) 3 available at https://bit.ly/3jHJwcW
Greek
‘Imprisonment of Jewish Illegal Immigrants’ (‘Φυλακίσεις Εβραίων Λαθρομεταναστών’) Eleftheria (Nicosia: 6 August 1948) 1.
Online Databases
American Jewish Committee Archives. Online Database available at http://ajcarchives.org/ajcarchive/DigitalArchive.aspx
Historical Jewish Press Archives, Israel National Library (עיתונות יהודית היסטורית, הספרייה הלאומית) Online database available at https://bit.ly/3hXxtrG
The Society for the Preservation of Israel’s Historic Monuments (המועצה לשימור אתרי מורשת ישראל) Online database available at https://bit.ly/2EVeJKX
Israel State Archives (ISA) - Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
ISA/RG93/MFA/8692/3
ISA/RG93/MFA/8692/4
ISA/RG93/MFA/2155/4
ISA/RG93/MFA/2155/10
ISA/RG93/MFA/2156/3
ISA/RG130/MFA/2584/11
Monographs and Publications
Atun, Ata ‘Initiative to Colonise Cyprus with Jews in the 20th Century’ (2011) 3(3) International Journal of Academic Research 790 – 794 available at
https://www.docdroid.net/lYhTArF/initiatives-to-colonise-cyprus-with-jews-pdf
Ben Artzi, Yossi ‘Historical Perspectives on Jewish Rural Settlement in Cyprus 1899-1939’ in Giorgos Kazamias, Giorgos Antoniou (eds.) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus, 2015) 13-17
Ben Gurion, David The Country’s Problems. Israel’s Foreign Policy ('בעיות של המדינה. מדיניות החוץ של ישראל') (Jerusalem: Sherutey ha’Modiin, 1951) (in Hebrew).
David Tidhar (ed.), Encyclopaedia of the Yeshuv Pioneers and Builders (אנציקלופדיה לחלוצי היישוב ובוניו) (5) 2288 (Tel Aviv: 1952) (in Hebrew) available at http://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/5/2288
Haritos, Gabriel ‘Cyprus, the Neighbouring Island. The Cyprus Issue in the State Archives of Israel’ (‘Κύπρος, το Γειτονικό Νησί. Το Κυπριακό μέσα από τα Κρατικά Αρχεία του Ισραήλ’) (2nd edn Athens: Papazisis, 2020).
Mathopoulou, Evangelia ‘Pioneers in a Stagnant Economy: The Jews in British Cyprus, 1899-1939’ in Giorgos Kazamias, Giorgos Antoniou (eds.) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus, 2015) 39-41.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00263200802547693
Lowenberg, Helmuth ‘Israel’ (1950) 51 American Jewish Year Book 389-406 available at http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1950_14_Israel.pdf
Rodan, Yadin ‘The Forgotten Jews of Cyprus’ (July-August 2001) Eretz Magazine 26-36 available at http://www.eretz.com/NEW/article/Cyprus%20jews.pdf
Seltenreich, Yair and Yossi Katz ‘Between the Galilee and its Neighbouring Isle: Jules Rosenheck and the JCA Settlements in Cyprus, 1897-1928’ (2009) 45(1) Middle Eastern Studies, 87-109 available at
Shub, Louis ‘Israel’ (1950) 51 American Jewish Year Book 379-389 available at http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1950_14_Israel.pdf
Weinstein, Menachem Religious Zionism in the Outskirts of the Land of Israel – ‘Ha’Avodah’ Movement at the Cyprus Detention Camps. (ציונות דתית בשולי ארץ ישראל. תמועת העבודה במחנות המעצר בקפריסין') (Nir Galim: Beit ha’Edot le-Moreshet ha’Tzionut ha’Datit ve ha’Shoa, 2001), 150 – 170
News Paper Articles
English
Rodan, Yadin ‘The Forgotten Jews of Cyprus’ (July-August 2001) Eretz Magazine 26-36 available at http://www.eretz.com/NEW/article/Cyprus%20jews.pdf
‘Commons Postpones Palestine Debate; Bevin Announces Cyprus Detainees to Be Freed’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XVI(15) (New York NY: 19 January 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/32P5AMf
‘Last Jewish DP’s Leave Cyprus; British Soldiers Shout ‘Shalom’ in Enthusiastic Farewell’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XVI (35) (New York NY: 11 February 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/2YZ6Pah
‘Dr. Mordechai Eliash, Israel Envoy to Britain, Dies. Burial to Take Place in Jerusalem’ JTA-Daily News Bulletin XXVII(49) (New York NY: 13 March 1950) 6 available at https://bit.ly/32UwUbI
‘150 Jews turned back from Israel’ Cyprus Mail (Nicosia: 12 January1951).
Hebrew
‘King of England to receive Israel’s chargé d’affaires’ ('המלך האנגלי יקבל את ציר ישראל'), Ha’Tzofeh (Tel Aviv, 10 June 1949) 1 available at https://bit.ly/2EHYmle
‘Britain recognised de jure the State of Israel and the Annexation’ (בריטניה הכירה דה-יורה בישראל ובסיפוח') Davar (Tel Aviv, 28 April 1950) 1 available at https://bit.ly/3bi1SOY
Levita, T. ‘The First Day of the Israeli Consulate in Cyprus – Family of Jewish immigrants requested entry visa to Israel, Patients Want to Be Cured by Our Doctors – Y. Yaron’s Duties in Moddle East’s Monitoring Centre’ ('היום הראשון בקונסוליית ישראל בקפריסין – משפחת עולים מבקשת וויזות, חולים רוצים להתרפא אצל רופאינו – תפקידי י. ירון במרכז התככים שמזרח התיכון') Maariv (Tel Aviv, 17 September 1950) 3 available at https://bit.ly/3jHJwcW
Greek
‘Imprisonment of Jewish Illegal Immigrants’ (‘Φυλακίσεις Εβραίων Λαθρομεταναστών’) Eleftheria (Nicosia: 6 August 1948) 1.
Online Databases
American Jewish Committee Archives. Online Database available at http://ajcarchives.org/ajcarchive/DigitalArchive.aspx
Historical Jewish Press Archives, Israel National Library (עיתונות יהודית היסטורית, הספרייה הלאומית) Online database available at https://bit.ly/3hXxtrG
The Society for the Preservation of Israel’s Historic Monuments (המועצה לשימור אתרי מורשת ישראל) Online database available at https://bit.ly/2EVeJKX
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How to Cite
“Israel’s Entry to Colonial Cyprus”. 2020. Cyprus Review 32 (2): 29-49. https://cyprusreview.org/index.php/cr/article/view/751.