3 days Ago By TOI World Desk
Representative photo One among multiple things that has changed amid the Israel-Hamas war is the radical swap in the labour workforce deployed in an Israeli building sector, where Indian workers have replaced Palestinian labourers . The construction sites, otherwise dominated by Arabic-speaking workers, are now overwhelmingly outnumbered by those speaking Hindi, Hebrew and even Mandarin, claimed news agency AFP. A new spurt of tension in the Middle East, triggered after Hamas's deadliest attack on Israel, has prompted the Israeli government to fill a void left by tens of thousands of Palestinian construction workers barred from entering Israel since Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack.
The tension in the region, however, is the least of concern for the Indian workers who went to Israel in pursuit of the work. "There's nothing to be afraid of here," Raju Nishad, who was hammering blocks that will form part of a building in a new neighbourhood in central Israel's town of Beer Yaakov, told AFP. "Once it (the siren) stops, we just resume our work," he told AFP.
High earnings in Israel , where some workers can make three times what they would back home, are the key to why people like Nishad flock here, thousands of kilometres (miles) away. "I'm saving for the future, planning to make wise investments and do something meaningful for my family," Nishad said. He is just one of around 16,000 workers who have come from India over the past year -- and Israel has plans to bring thousands more.
"In a short time, one can earn more money" in Israel, said Suresh Kumar Verma told AFP. Like Nishad, Verma is also from Uttar Pradesh. Verma works on a construction site north of Israel's commercial capital.
"Making money is also necessary...
It's important to continue working hard for the family's future," he added. After the war broke out, the Israeli construction industry had requested permission from Tel Aviv's authorities to hire up to one lakh Indian labourers as replacements for the Palestinian workers, according to a report by Voice of America (VOA) from the West Bank. Two weeks ago, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said as many as 5,600 people from his state are part of construction projects in Israel.
"Every youth gets free food and accommodation besides a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh there. There is also full guarantee of safety," CM Yogi said.
Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat , Ox , Tiger , Rabbit , Dragon , Snake , Horse , Goat , Monkey , Rooster , Dog , and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these Happy New Year wishes , messages , and quotes..
