Vandalism of Former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Election Billboard in Cyprus Sparks Controversy

A campaign billboard for former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Israeli party "Yashar," was vandalized near Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. Unknown individuals spray-painted the billboard with the colors of the Palestinian flag and red paint resembling blood on Eisenkot’s face. The billboard was part of Eisenkot’s campaign for the upcoming 2026 Israeli Knesset elections and was one of two placed near the airport targeting Israeli travelers.

The incident follows public uproar in Cyprus over the presence of foreign political advertisements, with local politicians and European Parliament member Fidas Panayotu criticizing the campaign. Panayotu called for legislation to ban political advertising by non-EU countries in Cyprus. Currently, Cypriot law does not prohibit foreign parties from purchasing advertising space, but this is reportedly the first known case of a foreign political party conducting an election campaign via billboards on the island.

The two billboards featured messages aimed at Israeli visitors: one welcoming them with "Israelis, enjoy! You deserve it," and the other encouraging them to "Come back and win." The controversy has sparked debate on social media and within Cyprus’s political circles about the growing Israeli presence on the island. The vandalism appears to be a protest against the campaign’s visibility and the broader political implications of foreign electioneering in Cyprus.

The incident highlights tensions surrounding foreign political campaigns in Cyprus and may prompt legislative changes regarding political advertising by non-EU entities in the future.