Kazim AlamThe purchase of massive properties in an abandoned village in Greek-administered Cyprus by an Israeli-linked ‘investor’ has caused a region-wide firestorm, shining a spotlight on what critics describe as Israel’s growing influence in the southern part of the island.
The abandoned village of Trozena is located roughly 130 kilometres from the divided capital Lefkosa.
Once home to Turkish Cypriots forced out by Greek Cypriot attacks in 1963-64, Trozena’s sale – totalling around 94 plots across approximately 25 acres to a company tied to Hungarian-Israeli investor Uriel Kertesz – has been framed by local media and politicians as an example of “silent occupation” and land grab.
Analysts paint a picture of strategic deepening of Israeli influence that extends far beyond real estate, threatening demography, sovereignty, and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Island of Cyprus, which is geographically an extension of the Anatolian peninsula, is home to two distinct peoples: the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots.
Ethnic attacks starting in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves in the northern parts of the island for their safety.
In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece’s annexation of the island led to Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence.
As a result, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was founded in 1983.
Zuleyha Karaman, a journalist and political analyst based in Lefkosa in the TRNC, tells TRT World that Trozena is a former Turkish village where Turkish Cypriots lived until 1963-1964, when the Greek Cypriots’ intense attacks on the Turks began.
Later, Greek settlers also abandoned the village in the 1990s.
“It has been interpreted as a new concrete manifestation of Israel’s expansionist and ‘silent occupation’ activities in the region, following years of policies aimed at permanent settlement in Greece-administered Cyprus,” she says.
The Israeli-linked buyer has acquired title deeds by paying 70 individuals for 94 plots, claiming an “eco-tourism” project to “revitalise” the village, she says.
However, construction reportedly began without full permits, fuelling accusations of “land grab” and “covert occupation”.
Zeki Akcam, Vice Rector at Ankara Social Sciences University’s Northern Cyprus Campus, tells TRT World that the Israeli investor secured roughly 70-80 percent of central properties in Trozena, with plans for 60 residential units, a campsite, and a winery.
While local authorities deny total closure of the church or village, the concentration of ownership has alarmed residents.
“The Israeli-linked real estate footprint in Greece-administered Cyprus cannot be interpreted merely as ‘foreigners buying homes’,” he says.
The purchases run into thousands across key districts of Larnaca, Limassol and Pafos, shifting the debate to sovereignty and security, he says.
Scale of acquisitions
Citing data from the Greek Cypriot land registry and interior ministry records, the experts say extensive Israeli activity is taking place at full speed on the Greek-administered part of the island.
Between 2021 and January 2025, Israeli citizens bought 1,406 properties in Larnaca, 1,154 in Limassol, and 1,291 in Paphos.
Overall, non-EU foreign buyers have carried out over 53,000 property transfers with another 29,000 contracts pending as of July 2025, totalling more than 82,000 transactions, Akcam notes.
Israelis rank among the top nationalities alongside Lebanese, Chinese, and Russians.
Karaman points to estimates that around 15,000 Israelis own property in the south, with Jewish organisations such as Chabad active in establishing religious and social infrastructure.
Akcam adds that Israeli-linked companies focus on coastal developments, tourism facilities, large residential projects, and village-scale acquisitions, particularly along the Larnaca-Limassol-Paphos corridor.
“These purchases are not limited to individual homes,” he says.
Greek Cypriot concerns over demography, control
There is rising alarm among Greek Cypriots over the land-grabbing spree by Israeli ‘investors’.
Karaman notes that one in every four properties sold in Greece-administered Cyprus goes to a non-EU citizen, sparking fears of closed communities.
“The Cypriot public harbours deep anxiety over foreigners forming closed communities or ghettos on the island,” she says.
Stefanos Stefanou, general secretary of the opposition AKEL party, warned people in June 2025 about Israeli land purchases.
“Zionist schools are being built – that’s what they call them – synagogues are being built, and you understand that this, in connection with various media reports appearing in serious newspapers in Israel itself, suggesting that Israel is preparing a ‘backyard’ in Cyprus… so this cannot but sound the alarm for us,” he was quoted as saying.
He said Israeli land purchases are leading to the creation of ghettos, which are “almost inaccessible to anyone other than Israeli nationals”.
In February, Stefanou accused Israel of using Greece-administered Cyprus as a tool for its own projects.
Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou amplified these fears, saying, “Israel is buying up” Greece-administered Cyprus. “The problem is that we are dependent on Israeli investment for our economy to go well,” he was quoted as saying.
Akcam outlines three core reasons to worry: soaring house prices that are pricing out locals, the transformation of local character through gated communities, and security risks near ports, borders, and infrastructure.
After October 2023, Greece-administered Cyprus became a “safe haven” and “transit hub” for Israelis as more than 16,000 Israelis arrived on the island.
This population movement is accompanied by religious and institutional infrastructure. Synagogues now operate in the cities of Larnaca, Limassol, Greek Cypriot-controlled side of Lefkosa, Paphos, and Ayia Napa, he says.
The perception within the Greek Cypriot community that ‘this is not merely investment, but the establishment of lasting influence’ has strengthened,” Akcam says.
Axis against Türkiye, TRNC
The experts frame property purchases as the civilian arm of a broader Israel-Greece-Greek Cypriot Administration alliance.
Tracing the roots of this alliance to post-World War II Jewish camps in Cyprus, Karaman points to modern military-strategic ties: joint exercises, intelligence sharing, defence deals like the Barak MX anti-aircraft system, and energy projects such as the EastMed pipeline and Great Sea Interconnector.
All these ties disregard Turkish Cypriot rights and threaten the interests of Türkiye.
“Property purchases and economic investments underpin this military cooperation,” she says.
Akcam agrees with this assessment, saying that Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration know full well that they cannot single-handedly counter Türkiye’s military and naval superiority in the Eastern Mediterranean or its Blue Homeland vision.
Therefore, they are inviting Israel to help them create a so-called ‘shield’ for themselves, he says.
“Early Zionist figures such as Davis Trietsch discussed Cyprus as a potential springboard for Jewish settlement or transit to Palestine, citing its proximity to Palestine… and its strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he adds.
What does it mean for broader region?
From Ankara’s viewpoint, these developments are monitored with “great sensitivity”, Karaman says.
She points to Türkiye’s unwavering support for the TRNC in this matter.
“Türkiye will never leave the TRNC alone,” she says, citing President Erdogan’s stance that no Eastern Mediterranean scenario succeeds without Turkiye and the TRNC.
Akcam says deepening Israeli economic-spatial influence, marginalisation of Turkish Cypriots as co-owners, disruption of energy equations, and military imbalance via air defence and exercises pose risks to regional stability.
In particular, property issues revive core Cyprus disputes.
“Israeli-linked property purchases… indicate that Israeli influence on the island is deepening economically, socially and spatially,” he says.
This can enable listening posts, logistics, or private security bases under the guise of tourism.
Karaman notes that the Greek Cypriot administration is taking unilateral steps that disregard the Turkish Cypriots, who are equal owners of the island.
Türkiye regards the TRNC’s security as its own, she says, noting that Ankara has consistently demonstrated its deterrent power in the region to safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots.
“The six Turkish F-16s deployed to Ercan Airport on March 9 are a powerful expression of this resolve and a clear indication that the TRNC is not alone,” she says.
