The Greek Cypriot ‘Jewish-Phobia’: Negative Perceptions of the Jewish Settlement Attempts in Cyprus During the Early British Rule (1883-1906)
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Published
Feb 21, 2022
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Abstract
In 1883-1906, Jewish immigrants made three attempts and developed one scheme to settle in Cyprus. Had these plans succeeded, a new Jewish minority group could have been established. However, the attempts failed due to several exogenous factors. What is rarely mentioned as a factor contributing to the said failure was the hostility towards the arriving Jews by most of the local population and the government. This article intents to examine the breakdown of the settlement attempts within the socio-political framework of Cyprus, using national and international literature as well as the local newspaper and government archives. Our aim is to argue that the Greek Cypriot ‘Jewish-phobia’ and the hostility of local authorities’ condemned the Jewish vision of a home in Cyprus to collapse.
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Keywords
Jewish settlements attempts, Greek Cypriot nationalism, British economic policy, Union
References
Archival Sources
Cyprus National Archives: Secretarial Series (1883-1906)
Cyprus Blue Books (1881-1891)
Cyprus Gazette (1898-1906)
Newspapers: Phoni tis Kyprou, Aletheia, Evagoras, Neon Kition, Ethnos, Salpinx
(1883-1906)
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a destiny?’ (September 2007) 21(3) Jewish History 361-383.
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G. and G. Antoniou (eds) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations
(Nicosia: University of Cyprus: 2015) 8-27.
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Publishing Group, 2006).
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(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003).
Evans N.J., ‘Commerce, State, and Anti-Alienism: Balancing Britain’s Interests
in the Late-Victorian Period’, in E. Bar-Yosef and N. Valman (eds) ‘The Jew’
in Late-Victorian and Edwardian Culture - Between the East End and East Africa
(London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).
Georghallides G.S., A Political and Administrative History of Cyprus 1918-
1926, With a Survey of the Foundations of the British Rule, (Nicosia: Cyprus Research
Centre, 1979).
Faustmann H., ‘Clientism in the Greek Cypriot Community of Cyprus under
the British Rule’ in Solomou E., H. Faustmann (eds), Colonial Cyprus, 1878-1960:
Selected Readings from the Cyprus Review (Nicosia: University of Nicosia Press,
2010), 229-246.
Gekas S., ‘The Port of Jews of Corfu and the “Blood Libel” of 1891: A tale of many
centuries and of one event’ (2004) 7(1-2) Jewish Culture and History 171-196.
Haritos G., ‘Israel’s entry to Colonial Cyprus’ (Fall 2020) 32(2) The Cyprus Review
29-49.
Herzl T., The Jewish State (Το Εβραϊκό Κράτος) (Athens: Papadopoulos, 2017)
(in Greek).
Hill G., A History of Cyprus, Vol. 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
Karady V., The Jews of Europe in the Modern Era: A Socio-Historical Outline
(Budapest and New York: Central European University Press, 2002).
Katsiaounis R., Labour, Society, and Politics in Cyprus During the Second Half
of the Nineteenth Century (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Centre, 1996).
Katsiaounis R., The Consultative Assembly 1946-1948 – With a Review of the
Period 1878-1945 (Η Διασκεπτική 1946-1948, Με Ανασκόπηση της Περιόδου
1878-1945) (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Center, 2000), 25 (in Greek).
Kiracofe C. A., Dark Crusade: Christian Zionism and US Foreign Policy, International
Library of Political Studies (London-New York: I.B. Tauris, 2009).
Kizilyurek N., ‘From Traditionalism to Nationalism and Beyond’, (1993) 5(2)
The Cyprus Review.
Lindeman A.S., Levy R.S. (eds), Antisemitism: A History (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2010).
Mathopoulou E., ‘Pioneers in Stagnant Economy: The Jews in British Cyprus,
1883-1939’ in Kazamias G. and G. Antoniou (eds), Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-
Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus: 2015) 8-27.
Mathopoulou E., ‘The Jewish Presence in British Cyprus 1878-1949, Ideological
and Socio-Political Transformations, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Colonial
Setting’ (‘Η Εβραϊκή Παρουσία στην Κύπρο 18878-1949, Ιδεολογικοί και
Κοινωνικο-Πολιτικοί Μετασχηματισμοί, Επιχειρηματικότητα και Καινοτομία στο
Αποικιακό Πλαίσιο’) (Phd, Nicosia, University of Cyprus, 2016) (in Greek).
Michael M.N., The Church of Cyprus During the Ottoman Period, 1571-1878.
The Process of Forming an Institution of Power (Η Εκκλησία της Κύπρου κατά
την Οθωμανική Περίοδο, 1571-1878. Η Διαδικασία Διαμόρφωσης ενός Θεσμού
Εξουσίας) (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Center, 2005).
Moustaka S., ‘The Labor Movement in Cyprus during the British Rule of 1878-
1955’ (‘Το Εργατικό Κίνημα στην Κύπρο κατά την Περίοδο της Βρετανοκρατίας
1878-1966’) (Phd Thesis, Panteion University, 2010) (in Greek).
Novo A.R., ‘The God Dilemma: Faith, the Church, and Political Violence in Cyprus’
2013 31(2) Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 193–215.
Orr C. W. J., Cyprus Under British Rule (CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Platform, 2015).
Panteli S., A New History of Cyprus: From the Earliest Times to the Present Day
(U.K.: East-West Publications, 1988).
Place of Refuge: A History of the Jews in Cyprus (Elliott & Thompson, 2003).
Papagoergiou S., The First Period of British Rule in Cyprus (1878-1914) – Political
Modernization and Social Inertia (Η Πρώτη Περίοδος της Αγγλοκρατίας στην
Κύπρο (1878-1914). Πολιτικός Εκσυγχρονισμός και Κοινωνικές Αδράνειες) (Athens:
Papazisis, 1996) (in Greek).
Papageorgiou S., ‘The Genesis of the Greek and Turkish Nationalism in Cyprus,
1878-1914: A Common march at a Different Pace’ in Solomou E., H. Faustmann
(eds), Colonial Cyprus 1878-1960: Selected Readings from the Cyprus Review,
(Nicosia, University of Nicosia, 2010) 47-56.
Rabinowitch O., A Jewish Cyprus Project: David Trietsch’s Colonisation Scheme
(Herzl Press, 1962).
Rappas A., ‘Jewish Refugees in Cyprus and British Imperial Sovereignty in Eastern
Mediterranean, 1933-1949’, (2019) 47(1) The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth
History 138-166.
Richter H., History of Cyprus (Ιστορία της Κύπρου), Vol. 1 (Athens: Estia, 2007)
(in Greek).
Shaw S. J., Shaw E. K., History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Volume
2, Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977).
Stamatakis N. A., ‘History and Nationalism: The Cultural Reconstruction of
Modern Greek Cypriot Identity’ 1991 3(1) The Cyprus Review.
Steltenreich Y., Katz Y., ‘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.
Varnava A., British Imperialism in Cyprus, 1878–1915: The Inconsequential
Possession (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017), 246-266.
Yiangou A., ‘The Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Enosis, Politics and the British
authorities during the First World War’ (April 2020) 44(1) Byzantine and Modern
Greek Studies 137-153.
Zannetos P., The History of the Island Cyprus from the British Occupation until
1911, (Ιστορία της Νήσου Κύπρου από την Αγγλική Κατοχή μέχρι το 1911) Vol. 2
(2nd edn, Nicosia: Epiphaniou, 1994) (in Greek).
Cyprus National Archives: Secretarial Series (1883-1906)
Cyprus Blue Books (1881-1891)
Cyprus Gazette (1898-1906)
Newspapers: Phoni tis Kyprou, Aletheia, Evagoras, Neon Kition, Ethnos, Salpinx
(1883-1906)
Secondary Sources
Ben Artzi Y., ‘Jewish Rural Settlement in Cyprus 1882-1935: a “springboard” or
a destiny?’ (September 2007) 21(3) Jewish History 361-383.
‘Historical Perspectives of Jewish Rural Settlement in Cyprus 1882-1935’ in Kazamias
G. and G. Antoniou (eds) Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-Jewish Relations
(Nicosia: University of Cyprus: 2015) 8-27.
Black J., A Military History of Britain: From 1775 to the Present (Greenwood
Publishing Group, 2006).
Brustein W.I., Roots of Hate: Anti-Semitism in Europe Before the Holocaust
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003).
Evans N.J., ‘Commerce, State, and Anti-Alienism: Balancing Britain’s Interests
in the Late-Victorian Period’, in E. Bar-Yosef and N. Valman (eds) ‘The Jew’
in Late-Victorian and Edwardian Culture - Between the East End and East Africa
(London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).
Georghallides G.S., A Political and Administrative History of Cyprus 1918-
1926, With a Survey of the Foundations of the British Rule, (Nicosia: Cyprus Research
Centre, 1979).
Faustmann H., ‘Clientism in the Greek Cypriot Community of Cyprus under
the British Rule’ in Solomou E., H. Faustmann (eds), Colonial Cyprus, 1878-1960:
Selected Readings from the Cyprus Review (Nicosia: University of Nicosia Press,
2010), 229-246.
Gekas S., ‘The Port of Jews of Corfu and the “Blood Libel” of 1891: A tale of many
centuries and of one event’ (2004) 7(1-2) Jewish Culture and History 171-196.
Haritos G., ‘Israel’s entry to Colonial Cyprus’ (Fall 2020) 32(2) The Cyprus Review
29-49.
Herzl T., The Jewish State (Το Εβραϊκό Κράτος) (Athens: Papadopoulos, 2017)
(in Greek).
Hill G., A History of Cyprus, Vol. 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
Karady V., The Jews of Europe in the Modern Era: A Socio-Historical Outline
(Budapest and New York: Central European University Press, 2002).
Katsiaounis R., Labour, Society, and Politics in Cyprus During the Second Half
of the Nineteenth Century (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Centre, 1996).
Katsiaounis R., The Consultative Assembly 1946-1948 – With a Review of the
Period 1878-1945 (Η Διασκεπτική 1946-1948, Με Ανασκόπηση της Περιόδου
1878-1945) (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Center, 2000), 25 (in Greek).
Kiracofe C. A., Dark Crusade: Christian Zionism and US Foreign Policy, International
Library of Political Studies (London-New York: I.B. Tauris, 2009).
Kizilyurek N., ‘From Traditionalism to Nationalism and Beyond’, (1993) 5(2)
The Cyprus Review.
Lindeman A.S., Levy R.S. (eds), Antisemitism: A History (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2010).
Mathopoulou E., ‘Pioneers in Stagnant Economy: The Jews in British Cyprus,
1883-1939’ in Kazamias G. and G. Antoniou (eds), Historical Perspectives on Cypriot-
Jewish Relations (Nicosia: University of Cyprus: 2015) 8-27.
Mathopoulou E., ‘The Jewish Presence in British Cyprus 1878-1949, Ideological
and Socio-Political Transformations, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Colonial
Setting’ (‘Η Εβραϊκή Παρουσία στην Κύπρο 18878-1949, Ιδεολογικοί και
Κοινωνικο-Πολιτικοί Μετασχηματισμοί, Επιχειρηματικότητα και Καινοτομία στο
Αποικιακό Πλαίσιο’) (Phd, Nicosia, University of Cyprus, 2016) (in Greek).
Michael M.N., The Church of Cyprus During the Ottoman Period, 1571-1878.
The Process of Forming an Institution of Power (Η Εκκλησία της Κύπρου κατά
την Οθωμανική Περίοδο, 1571-1878. Η Διαδικασία Διαμόρφωσης ενός Θεσμού
Εξουσίας) (Nicosia: Cyprus Research Center, 2005).
Moustaka S., ‘The Labor Movement in Cyprus during the British Rule of 1878-
1955’ (‘Το Εργατικό Κίνημα στην Κύπρο κατά την Περίοδο της Βρετανοκρατίας
1878-1966’) (Phd Thesis, Panteion University, 2010) (in Greek).
Novo A.R., ‘The God Dilemma: Faith, the Church, and Political Violence in Cyprus’
2013 31(2) Journal of Modern Greek Studies, 193–215.
Orr C. W. J., Cyprus Under British Rule (CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Platform, 2015).
Panteli S., A New History of Cyprus: From the Earliest Times to the Present Day
(U.K.: East-West Publications, 1988).
Place of Refuge: A History of the Jews in Cyprus (Elliott & Thompson, 2003).
Papagoergiou S., The First Period of British Rule in Cyprus (1878-1914) – Political
Modernization and Social Inertia (Η Πρώτη Περίοδος της Αγγλοκρατίας στην
Κύπρο (1878-1914). Πολιτικός Εκσυγχρονισμός και Κοινωνικές Αδράνειες) (Athens:
Papazisis, 1996) (in Greek).
Papageorgiou S., ‘The Genesis of the Greek and Turkish Nationalism in Cyprus,
1878-1914: A Common march at a Different Pace’ in Solomou E., H. Faustmann
(eds), Colonial Cyprus 1878-1960: Selected Readings from the Cyprus Review,
(Nicosia, University of Nicosia, 2010) 47-56.
Rabinowitch O., A Jewish Cyprus Project: David Trietsch’s Colonisation Scheme
(Herzl Press, 1962).
Rappas A., ‘Jewish Refugees in Cyprus and British Imperial Sovereignty in Eastern
Mediterranean, 1933-1949’, (2019) 47(1) The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth
History 138-166.
Richter H., History of Cyprus (Ιστορία της Κύπρου), Vol. 1 (Athens: Estia, 2007)
(in Greek).
Shaw S. J., Shaw E. K., History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Volume
2, Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977).
Stamatakis N. A., ‘History and Nationalism: The Cultural Reconstruction of
Modern Greek Cypriot Identity’ 1991 3(1) The Cyprus Review.
Steltenreich Y., Katz Y., ‘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.
Varnava A., British Imperialism in Cyprus, 1878–1915: The Inconsequential
Possession (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017), 246-266.
Yiangou A., ‘The Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Enosis, Politics and the British
authorities during the First World War’ (April 2020) 44(1) Byzantine and Modern
Greek Studies 137-153.
Zannetos P., The History of the Island Cyprus from the British Occupation until
1911, (Ιστορία της Νήσου Κύπρου από την Αγγλική Κατοχή μέχρι το 1911) Vol. 2
(2nd edn, Nicosia: Epiphaniou, 1994) (in Greek).
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How to Cite
“The Greek Cypriot ‘Jewish-Phobia’: Negative Perceptions of the Jewish Settlement Attempts in Cyprus During the Early British Rule (1883-1906)”. 2022. Cyprus Review 33 (2): 40-58. https://cyprusreview.org/index.php/cr/article/view/796.