By International Affairs Correspondent
London, (The Muslim News): The Jewish Community of Cyprus has apologised and reversed its decision to dedicate a tree-planting ceremony in honour of former US President Donald Trump, following strong public criticism in the coastal city of Larnaca.
The event was due to take place on Sunday opposite Vergina Lyceum, a secondary school in the city. Its stated aim, to recognise Trump for his purported role in securing the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, sparked immediate objections from parents, local residents, and Larnaca Municipality officials, who said they had granted approval only for a routine tree planting, not a politically charged gathering.
In a letter sent to the Municipality on Saturday, the Jewish Community expressed regret that the ceremony “has been given a political character” and that “its purpose was misinterpreted.” The community insisted the initiative “has always been to honour, commemorate, and celebrate the recent signing of the peace agreement,” adding: “It has never been our aim to introduce any political dimension, to cause discomfort, or to convey any message that could be interpreted as divisive. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or misunderstanding that may have arisen.”
Organisers have now been instructed to amend the event’s invitation so that it reflects only a general ceremony marking the peace agreement. The letter concluded by stating that the community “warmly welcomes every person who believes that peace, unity, and the preservation of life are values worth celebrating.”
Despite the clarification, police confirmed to Phileleftheros that officers will be deployed at the site on Sunday morning and that Larnaca Divisional Headquarters has issued an Operation Order in anticipation of possible tension.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said the Municipality had not been informed that the tree-planting was intended to honour Trump. He explained that the request submitted to City Hall referred simply to the planting of 50 trees “as part of [the community’s] social and environmental contribution.”
“They had not informed us that an event would take place, nor did we know that the tree planting would be in honour of the President of the United States, Donald Trump,” Vyras told the Cyprus News Agency. He said no such permit had been granted and that officials had reminded the organisers they should have disclosed the intended dedication.
The Mayor noted that public reaction has been considerable. “We received many phone calls from people who reacted and mentioned that there might be protests on the day of the tree planting,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Parents’ Association of Vergina Lyceum released a statement clarifying that the school has no involvement in the ceremony, which is taking place outside its premises.
[Map of Cyprus by CIA US Govt/World Fact Book]
