Close on the heels of Maldives deciding to amend laws to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the island nation, the Israeli envoy to India, Naor Gilon, has recommended Indian beaches for his fellow citizens to visit.
An X post by Israel in India read: "Since the Maldives is no longer welcoming Israelis, here are some beautiful and amazing Indian beaches where Israeli tourists are warmly welcomed and treated with utmost hospitality. Check out these recommendations from @IsraelinIndia, based on the places visited by our diplomats".
The post also shared images of beaches from Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Soon after Gilon retweeted the post. "I have personally been to Kerala and Goa and can warmly recommend both the incredible beauty as well as the family-like hospitality".
This comes as Israel's foreign ministry on Sunday recommended that Israeli citizens avoid travel to the Maldives after its government banned the entry of visitors with Israeli passports. The recommendation includes
I have personally been to #Kerala and #Goa and can warmly recommend both the incredible beauty as well as the family like hospitality🏖️😎. https://t.co/nN1ZNjwPjR
— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) June 3, 2024
Israelis with dual citizenship. "For Israeli citizens already in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, because if they find themselves in distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to assist," the ministry said in a statement.
Following public anger in the country over the devastating attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza, the Maldivian government on Sunday decided to amend laws to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Home Minister Ali Ihusan announced the decision at an emergency press briefing at the President's Office, according to local media houses. "The cabinet decided today to make the legal amendments necessary to ban entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports as soon as possible," he said, adding that the cabinet has set up a special committee of ministers to expedite the process.
Maldives receives more than one million tourists each year. This includes around 15,000 tourists from Israel.
Gilon had earlier too praised India and its support for Israel, stating India's stance as a testimony of the extraordinary ties between the Indians and the Jewish people. "From October 7, both the government and the people of India stood on the side of Israel. And this we will never forget," he said.
"The amount of support we get here is nothing short of amazing. It's a testimony of the extraordinary relations between the Indian and the Jewish people," Gilon said in his address at the event last night.
