Israeli envoy wants lifting of Philippine workers ban

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Menashe Bar-on gestures during an interview inside the Israeli Embassy in Makati City on Tuesday. AP

MANILA, Philippines—Israel’s envoy to Manila said he would ask the government to lift a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel following the end of heavy fighting between Israeli and Hamas forces.

Ambassador Menashe Bar-on said Tuesday that the ban is unnecessary because the situation in Israel was returning to normal after a ceasefire agreement last week.

Bar-on said there are more than 40,000 Filipinos in Israel, mostly employed as caregivers, who have access to bunker-like protection against rocket attacks. The Philippine government says there are also about 120 Filipinos in Gaza.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration banned the deployment of workers to Israel because of the conflict, but made its decision after Wednesday’s ceasefire.

Overseas workers provide one of the largest sources of foreign revenue for the Philippines.