By Massimiliano Sfregola
"Our nation, Israel,” the friendship with Cyprus, hope, says the Rabbi of Larnaca under an unusual, scorching late-November sun in the outskirts of Larnaca.
All turned around 48 olive trees when The Vergina High School in the outskirts of Larnaca became in the past few days the centre of the most surveilled eco happening to time in Cyprus. Why? All the story is in the invitation:
“The Jewish Community of Cyprus, in collaboration with Osi and Eitan Bar On, cordially invite you to a tree planting ceremony in honour of US President Donald Trump that caused the release of the Israel hostages and signing the peace agreement,” the invitation read.
The event organised by some groups of the Jewish diaspora in Cyprus was really supposed to be a celebration for Trump, for the release of the October 7 2023 hostages, for the end of the war. Planting 48 olive trees in a public space must have seemed like a good idea to the organisers. But sometimes good initiatives lack context and often ignore the broad public feelings.
The announcement on an event dedicated to the US President had caused reactions, by locals as well as the municipality, who claimed that the request was about tree-planting and not a partisan celebration, especially one dedicated to Trump. For many there was no peace and definitely no reason to celebrate the American president with public soil. At least 70k palestinians lost their life and that can’t be ignored.
The mayor could not ignore them; in fact, he stated that no one had disclosed the purpose of the environmental permit requested by the Jewish community to plant the trees. Even without being experts in foreign policy, one might have guessed something; but fine, the mayor still gave his approval once the true purpose of the initiative had already become clear.
But today, spectacle that unfolded outside the Vergina High School leaves a certain sense of unease: peace and common sense surrounded by a blue tarp. Perhaps, to avoid displaying the Israeli flag, someone thought that, together with the white of the Republic of Cyprus flags, the tones would blend well: a subtle message, perceptible to some. And then American flags. Why did a celebration of peace and joy turn into a heavily guarded event, with the banquet hidden from view, rows of blue cars, and an entire army, both in uniform and plainclothes, on watch?
A square that looks like a colony: a few meters of Cyprus where Trump’s “Middle East” is being tested. Inside, normal life unfolds: a banquet, people dressed for the occasion; around it, dozens of meters of buffer zones, uniforms, helmets, and shields to watch over a small group of pro-Palestine demonstrators. Along the avenue bordering the high school, the 48 small trees are in place. Perhaps if they had been planted all together, as it is public space, the event could have belonged to everyone; but the line between being instrumentalized and being complicit is very thin. In this intimate ceremony, where only two parties were present, but not the ones you might expect, peace would not have needed shields.
And the other side? Where are the Palestinians? And the Cypriots? Where are the locals? The Israeli government often repeats that Palestinians have been used as human shields by Hamas. Fair enough, but there is no Hamas here: where are the Palestinians living in Cyprus? Why were they not invited to the banquet? Why did the deputy mayor engage with only one side? And above all, where were the Cypriots?
The Chief Rabbi of Larnaca expressed regret: he believes a gesture of peace was politically exploited. Slicha, rabbi, sorry, rabbi in Hebrew, but celebrating the release of hostages outside the broader context of a conflict that has mobilised half the world, while imposing a one-sided narrative, is already a political act.
This is confirmed by the original version of the event flyer: if no one had protested, it would have been a celebration for Trump and for the peace treaty imposed on the residents of Gaza. Lowering the profile did not change the substance: the authorities of Larnaca chose to participate in an event with only one actor, when there are two.
It was not “the Israelis and the Jews” who attended: it was some Israelis and some Jews. At pro-Palestinian marches, there is often an Israeli family carrying a sign in Hebrew: “Not in our name.” They never need protection or an army: everyone loves and protects them, because Cypriots are not antisemitic. They are Israeli, yes - but you can be certain they would have skipped an event like this.
Those present today, however, seemed frightened, convinced they needed protection on this Sunday path of “rebirth”: no one was willing to speak with anyone unknown to the community, everyone scanning the scene for familiar Israeli faces or the police standing guard. Perhaps a protester had infiltrated to spoil the celebration, who knows.
But the most heartbreaking moment came at the end: a Jewish family, in traditional dress, approached the first planted olive tree. The father bent down and called his children. From afar, behind the police line, protesters shouted about the 20,000 children of Gaza. Words sharp as knives on hypocricy and double standards of international policy.
How did we get to this point? The children of that man are innocent but what about the 20,000 Gazan children who were killed? Why were not acknowledged at this celebration?. Perhaps if those Israeli children had met Palestinian peers today, they would have learned together the value of an olive tree.
Instead, the deputy mayor of Larnaca chose to celebrate the “rebirth” of olive trees, destroyed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and “resurrected” in Cyprus by religious Israelis, without the Palestinian children. He accepted this selective peace, celebrating it in his own city. Why not give Palestinian children a chance? Why not acknowledge those mourning Palestinian deaths?