Dozens of people gathered outside the presidential palace in Nicosia on Friday evening to protest against the president’s upcoming trip to Israel and his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The protest was organised by 12 groups, which called on the public to sign a petition deploring the visit.

The petition, which was later delivered to the presidency, said the Republic of Cyprus was legally bound to arrest and hand over to the court any person against whom an arrest warrant had been issued.

The trip to Israel “constitutes an indirect albeit clear violation of this obligation,” it adds.

Furthermore, it says the visit “violates the obligation not to recognise an illegal situation – in this case the Israeli occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories.”

The protesters called for Cyprus to reconsider its relationship with Israel, including in the energy field.

“This visit directly contravenes the recommendations of the UN, which call on the states to fully review their political and economic relations with Israel and impose sanctions that will contribute to the termination of the occupation and the apartheid regime,” the petition reads.

Cyprus, “as a country with the experience of occupation and violation of sovereignty, has a moral and historical duty to stand by the victims of the Israeli repression and not align with the abuser,” it says.

“Respect for international law cannot be selective,” it adds.

The petition was read out during the protest in Greek and English. Poetry was recited, followed by music.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the 12 organisers, Nikos Panayiotou said the president had “not received a popular mandate” to visit Israel and that cooperation with the neighbouring country was not in Cyprus’ interests.

Traffic outside the presidential palace was affected for about two hours, from 7pm till 9pm, while the protesters chanted slogans against Israel and in solidarity with the Palestinians.