War clouds between Iran and Israel have cast a shadow over the future of more than 5,000 Indians who have been recruited for construction work in Israel, even as experts questioned the government for allowing the recruitment at this time.
In an advisory issued on Friday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asked all Indians “not to travel” to Iran or Israel until further notice, in view of escalating tensions between the two countries after Iran threatened reprisal for Israel’s bombing of its embassy in Damascus.
At least 500 Indians, hired after a process facilitated by the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) along with Israel’s Population, Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA), have already flown to Israel since April 2, when the first group of 64 workers were flagged off in a ceremony hosted by the Israeli Embassy in Delhi. When asked, NSDC officials who facilitated the recruitment drive said that the advisory is for all citizens, and hence the process had witnessed a “temporary disruption”.
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