Amid the deteriorating security situation in West Asia, the govt “advised” Indian nationals not to travel till further notice to Iran and Israel - the two countries teetering on the brink of a major military escalation - putting on hold the departure of thousands of Indian construction workers to Israel.
The advisory also asked Indian nationals who are already in Israel and Iran to register themselves with the Indian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran respectively. US authorities were reported to have warned the Israeli govt of a major retaliatory strike on Israeli soil by Iran, which has vowed revenge for the killing of seven Iranian military commanders in an attack on Iran’s diplomatic premises in Syria last week.
The advisory to not travel to Israel came in the middle of the govt’s efforts to facilitate the travel of thousands of Indian construction workers to the country which is facing acute labour shortage.
More than 6,000 Indian workers were expected to arrive in April-May under a bilateral agreement the two countries signed last year that will allow 42,000 Indian nationals to work in Israel. The agreement, however, predates the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as it was signed in May last year. According to sources, these plans have been put on hold now.
“All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian embassies there and register themselves. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,’’ the advisory said. India’s advisory followed a security alert by the US embassy in Jerusalem that reminded US citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness. It said the security environment remained complex and could change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events. The US has also restricted the movement of its diplomats and their family members in Israel.
