In a significant development, the first group of over 60 construction workers from India has arrived in Israel. This arrival marks the beginning of a series of planned arrivals through the government-to-government (G2G) route, with close to 850 workers expected to arrive by mid-April.
Israeli envoy to India, Naor Gilon, expressed his optimism about the workers' arrival, calling them potential 'ambassadors' of the strong people-to-people relations between India and Israel. He praised the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for its role in facilitating this initiative.
This deployment of Indian workers to Israel comes within the framework of a government-to-government agreement, although there has been no official announcement regarding the specifics of such an agreement.
The move to recruit Indian workers follows reports of the Israeli construction industry's interest in hiring replacements for Palestinian workers, particularly after the Israel-Hamas conflict. Last month, India emphasized its focus on ensuring the safety and security of its citizens abroad.