Ever more Israelis moving to and investing in Cyprus

The volatile situation in Israel and the prolonged sense of insecurity following the October 7, 2023 attacks and the wars that followed have prompted a growing number of Israelis to turn to the Republic of Cyprus .

For many, the nearby island is evolving from a holiday and investment destination into a place to settle permanently — and, in some cases, a "Plan B" in the event of a deterioration of the situation in Israel.

That is precisely how several Israelis who spoke to DW on condition of anonymity described their decision.

"I want to have a Plan B in case the situation in Israel gets more difficult," said one Israeli who recently bought a home in a large residential development in Cyprus's Limassol district.

Another pointed to Cyprus's proximity and familiarity: "It's a 40-minute flight, the same landscape, the same climate. It's like being in Israel without actually being there."

A third linked his move to business, saying that many Israeli companies have transferred some of their operations to Cyprus, making it easier for them to do business with EU countries.

The population of the Republic of Cyprus is less than a million.

According to estimates cited by Israeli media , at least 3,000 Israeli families now live permanently in Cyprus, with their number increasing by several hundred each year.