A proposal by Israel to hire around up to 100,000 Indian construction workers to replace Palestinians has triggered racist backlash against Indians on social media.
Palestinians constituted around 25 percent of the workforce in the construction industry.
Israel Builders Association vice president Haim Feiglin told American-state broadcaster VOA that the industry was looking to hire 50,000 to 100,000 Indian workers to bring the industry “back to normal”.
However, many Israelis have reacted with racist remarks directed at India over the proposal.
A social media user, describing themselves as a ‘Zionist’, called Indians as “sexually hungry” and “uncivilized”.
A social media user, describing themselves as a ‘Zionist’, called Indians as “sexually hungry” and “uncivilized”.
“Some called me a racist. I am not a racist. I just fear for my family and my country from rapists. Opening Israel's doors to third-world countries will destroy it,” the same user wrote.
Israel's plea to hire Indian workers sparks racist backlash
© Photo / Indian workers in Israel
“This is a Jewish state, not Bangalore station,” remarked another user by the name Ben-Tzion Saloff.
India's Reaction to Israel’s Proposal
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that it hasn’t been made aware of any “specific request” from Israel.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing in New Delhi last week that India and Israel had been discussing a “bilateral framework” in the construction and caregiving sectors since last year.
“… But this is a long-term initiative and I am not, as I said, aware of any specific requests or numbers that have been floating around,” the Indian official clarified.
Indian and Israel signed an agreement to allow around 42,000 Indians to work in Israel’s construction and healthcare sectors during the visit of foreign minister Eli Cohen to New Delhi in May this year.
On the other hand, the Indian trade unions have objected to the idea of “exporting” Indian workers.
A joint statement by major Indian trade unions slammed Israel’s proposal.
“The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), on behalf of the working class, reiterates its demand upon the government of India to refuse to respond to any such purported move of the Israeli government and the Builders’ Association there,” it said.