Israel and Cyprus Strengthen Cooperation in Emergency Preparedness and Response

Israel and Cyprus are further deepening their bilateral cooperation in the field of emergency preparedness and response, as part of the understandings reached between the leadership of both countries to strengthen coordination and mutual assistance in times of crisis.

As part of this ongoing cooperation, the Head of Israel’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) at the Israel Ministry of Defense, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Itzik Bar, conducted a working visit to Cyprus and met with senior Cypriot officials responsible for defence, civil protection and emergency management.

During the visit, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Bar met with the Ministers of Interior and Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Major General Harris Georgiou, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defence and designated Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Acting Civil Defence Commander Colonel Theodoros Lemoniatis, as well as additional senior officials from Cyprus’s defence and emergency-response authorities.

The discussions focused on advancing a joint Israel–Cyprus work plan for 2026–2027, strengthening professional coordination, expanding the exchange of knowledge and operational expertise, and developing additional mechanisms for cooperation in preparedness and response to major emergency scenarios.

The visit also included a meeting at the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station (CRAFS) in Paphos, as part of preparations for Israel’s participation in the regional coordination framework for responding to major wildfire emergencies.

The visit reflects the shared commitment of Israel and Cyprus to strengthening regional resilience and enhancing their ability to provide coordinated and effective responses to natural disasters and other emergency situations.

The Israeli delegation included the Military Assistant to the Head of NEMA and the Head of the Strategic Cooperation Division, which has been leading the development of the professional cooperation and the coordination of the visit. Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, and Deputy Ambassador Kobi Weller also participated in the meetings.