Why Cyprus Has Blocked the Gaza Flotilla

Since 2006, the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip - home to 1.5million people of whom 70% are refugees expelled from their homes in what is now "Israel" - has been the victim of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

Since the election of Hamas in free election in 2006, Israel and the United States have supported a boycott of the Hamas government in Gaza and a blockade against the territory on the grounds that Hamas refuses to recognize the state of Israel. The purpose of the blockade is to be a tool of collective punishment against the 1.5million Palestinians in an effort to pressure either the Palestinians to blame Hamas (instead of the obvious culprit Israel) for their worsened plight and overthrow the democratically elected government or to pressure Hamas to voluntarily accept past Palestinian agreements and recognize Israel.

Hamas has offered talks and even a 100-year long "truce", but not explicit recognition. So the blockade continues with Israel and Egypt (which shares its own border) allowing for literally only dozens of basic needs for life and livelihood. This act of cruel and international illegal collective punishment has not worked in dislodging Hamas. The party-cum-militia remains entrenched, it has only produced a humanitarian catastrophe where 80% of the population are dependent on UN food aid, unemployment is roughly 50% and many Palestinians - including children - die for want of medical aid or leave (Israel and Egypt also prohibit Palestinians from leaving Gaza in order to seek medical help or pursue education).

Not all people of in want of a conscience. At the moment over 800 human rights activists on several ships are sailing the Mediterranean on their way to Gaza in the hopes of breaking the blockade (Israel also blocks the Strip through its Navy). And they intend to demonstrate for the world the cruelty of Israel's actions and support and solidarity for the Palestinians by breaking the siege and delivering symbolic aid.

Israel has already attacked the flotilla. It even has denounced what is a peaceful act as "violent". So Israeli propaganda is in high-gear and Israel has threatened to use its Navy to prevent the ships from reaching the occupied territory. And it very well may, and certainly has the arsenal to do so.

Most of the world is against such immoral Israeli conduct - the European Union just called for lifting the blockade - but Israel does have allies. The US, naturally. But also Cyprus:

Cypriot authorities prevented pro-Palestinian activists, including 30 MPs from nine European countries, from leaving the island yesterday to join a flotilla in international waters, which is on its way to blockaded Gaza.

In addition to issuing an edict banning ships headed for Gaza to set sail from the island’s ports, or dock on the island on their way back, the authorities yesterday forbade any small vessels from leaving Cyprus in case they were on their way to the flotilla of eight ships carrying around 700 peace activists, and 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid.

This is at first sight very odd. Cyprus is not known for being an ally of Israel. It never votes alongside Israel at the UN, enjoys good relations with Arab states, always supports pro-Palestinian resolutions at the UN as well, and currently has in place a left-wing government. So why would the liberal island nation under a socialist government buck international opinion and support an increasingly pariah state? For Cyprus it would appear to be no gain. But entail lost to the nation's image as it violates European Union law, which recognizes free movement, and obstructs human-rights activists. Ireland, Greece and Turkey have let flotillas sail from their shores, but now Cyprus stands as a ignoble state blocking its own activists. Why would Cyprus do this?

Pure realpolitik. Many government around the world have a very high opinion of Israel's standing in Washington and the powerful Israel lobby. They believe that, if need be, Israel could lobby on behalf of that nation's interest and secure them for it. For instance, whenever Armenian Genocide resolutions appear in Congress, the Turkish government always relies on Israel via its domestic lobby to defeat these resolutions. It's a quid pro quo: a foreign nation maintains good relations with Israel and agrees to certain Israeli demands, and Israel returns the favor by asking its lobby to pressure Congress on this or that nation's behalf. This is why many eastern European government maintain friendly relations with Israel, because they want, say, admission into NATO and believe not that Israel could singlehandedly deliver such a thing but that being on good terms with the Israel lobby certainly does not hurt and may even help. Many government believe this. And those who lack their own weight in Washington and need something from Washington believe that part of the path runs through Tel Aviv. Japan does not need Israel to secure its interests, but a small nation like Cyprus could use the assistance of Israel's own weight and "special relationship" with Washington to help it when it makes its case. What case does Cyprus have which Israel could be of assistance?

Cyprus is divided into two haves: southern Cyprus (an EU member) and the norther Turkish republic of Cyprus (which is a Turkish occupation [although the republic is now an independent country] settled by Turks moved to the Israel by past Turkish governments no different than Israel's own colonization, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine). This division of Cyprus, needless to say, leads to tense politics and rivalry being Cyprus, the Turkish half, and the Turkish government. And both Cyprus and the Turkish government seek to undermine the other's claim to the northern half. Cyprus, for instance, prevents the Turkish republic from joining the EU while Turkey denies Cyprus ships access to its waters.

For years, the U.S. had supported Turkey's side and dismissed Cyprus because simply Turkey is a heavyweight, a NATO ally, and home to a major U.S. base against an insignificant country like Cyprus. Pure realpolitik.

But Cyprus is hoping that the new eastern-oriented nature of Turkish foreign policy will drift Turkey away from the United States, and thus allow for Cyprus to make an opening and get the U.S. to see its side. Why not enlist Israel - which is now in the heat of very poor and tense relations with Turkey - to advocate on Cyprus behalf? Israel would have never done this before given its relations with Turkey, but now the Israelis and Turks no longer are allies and Israel thus may feel it has little to lose by ditching a former ally and increasingly antagonistic nation and enlisting a new - albeit not as significant - ally which may serve some strategic asset in terms of its proximity to Israel. Cyprus may be proposing this to Israel in the hopes of gaining leverage by blocking the flotilla.

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Cyprus is not complicit in punishing the Palestinians, but will it help it. No. The Israel lobby does not dictate policy, and Turkey will not as warm to the U.S. as in the past it still an incredibly important ally and strategic asset to the U.S. in the region (70% of American military cargo in Afghanistan goes through the Turkish base). So Cyprus will not achieve anything, but lose in international standing. This is a grandiose delusional some governments have about the power of the Israel lobby.

Finally, a caveat: I have no proof that this is why Cyprus is acting like this, but this just my analysis.