The Israeli Embassy on Wednesday defended its participation in a planned event at a Nicosia primary school to showcase its sponsorship of a “green roof” for the facility.

The event has sparked increasing controversy over the past several days following the release of the notice sent to parents and the announcement of heightened security measures to be taken by the Israeli embassy on the day.

Opposition party Akel on Wednesday reiterated its earlier call to cancel the event, calling it “shameful” and claiming it offends the dignity of the Cypriot people.

“The planned event at a primary school, co-organised by the ministry of education and the embassy of the genocidal state of Israel, offends the dignity of the Cypriot people and is causing more reactions every day,” Akel said.

In response to a request for comment, Cyprus Mail received a written statement from the Israeli Embassy, which read: “The Embassy of Israel in Cyprus is proud of its longstanding collaboration with the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth.”

This collaboration, the statement noted, extends to Holocaust education, teacher training, and environmental innovation.

Referring to the green roof project, the embassy said: “The initiative reflects our shared commitment to education, sustainability, and community engagement. It teaches climate responsibility and promotes urban innovation.”

Addressing criticism of the strict security measures planned for the event, the embassy stated: “In general, we are confident in the Cypriot authorities’ ability to ensure the security and safety of all – citizens, diplomats and tourists.”

“Hate-filled words can lead to violence,” the statement added, citing last week’s attack in Washington DC in which two Israeli embassy employees were killed. “We must never yield to terror. It aims to divide us and derail efforts to build understanding,” the statement concluded.

The controversy began five days ago when the parents’ association protested the nature of the notice they had received about the event.

The joint project involves the donation of the first-of-its-kind “green roof” by the Israeli Embassy. According to a representative of the parents’ association, they had been aware of the project itself but were not informed that the inauguration had been scheduled for June 17 – the last day of school – before the project’s completion.

The notice informed parents that the inauguration would be held “in the framework of celebrations for Israeli Independence Day” (which falls on April 30-May 1). Parents were also concerned that, according to the notice, a strong police presence would be in place to ensure the children’s safety.

The notice, addressed to parents and published by Politis newspaper, reads:

“The Embassy of Israel in collaboration with the education ministry will create the first green roof at a school. The inauguration of this great work will take place in the framework of celebrations for Israeli Independence Day […] in the presence of the education minister, the ambassador of Israel, and other officials.”

“As safety measures will be increased (presence of uniformed and plainclothes police, sniffer dogs, metal detectors, etc.), entrance will be limited and open only to individuals who complete the electronic form sent by the embassy.”

The notice further stated that personal details would need to be provided to the embassy online, and that the invitation could not be forwarded to others.

Teachers’ union Poed responded on Tuesday, calling the event’s organisation “an unfortunate and unacceptable decision as regards the safety of children, teachers, and parents who will be put at risk.”

“At a time when worldwide public opinion is appalled by the senseless loss of thousands of children, it is at the very least an ill-suited decision,” the union said.

Akel’s statement questioned: “How many murdered children does the Christodoulides government need to witness to end its servitude to the Netanyahu regime?”

Earlier this week, Akel also described the transfer of security control for the event to the Israeli Embassy as “an unprecedented humiliation of the Cypriot state.”

The schools and students of Cyprus, it said, “are not fodder for Israeli propaganda and Mossad.”

Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights Despo Michaelidou also issued a statement on Tuesday, questioning the appropriateness of the event amid the war in Gaza. She expressed concern over the organisation of the event, particularly the impact of its heightened security measures, which could create a “climate of fear and anxiety” for children.

She also questioned the wisdom of holding a diplomatic event in a school setting, particularly one involving representatives from a country engaged in ongoing conflict.

“Any political decision made by the current political authority should primarily consider the environment in which such an event takes place, especially when it occurs in a school setting attended by children,” she said.

Responding to the public outcry, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou told Alpha TV that the ministry’s “ears were open” and that the reactions were being taken into consideration.

“We have communicated with the foreign ministry and believe that a purely environmental and educational action should not be subject to political exploitation,” she said.

Cyprus Mail reached out to the education ministry, which was not immediately available to confirm whether the event will proceed as planned.