60,000 Pinoys in Israel safe; Filipinos staying put in Gaza

Filipina Muslims protest Israel’s assault on Gaza Strip in front of the Israel Embassy in Makati City yesterday.

Israel’s ambassador to the Philippines assured Manila yesterday of the safety of “90 percent” of over 60,000 Filipinos working in Israel despite his country’s military operations in nearby Gaza.

In an interview with radio station dzBB, Ambassador Zvi Vapni said the Israel government is also helping facilitate the evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza and their repatriation to the Philippines.

“We’re doing our best to help them move to Jordan and from there back home,” Vapni said.

Vapni said the Israeli Embassy continues to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation of the Filipinos.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working hand in hand with your ambassador in Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said a deployment ban to Israel is unlikely despite the latest Middle East hostilities.

“The epicenter of hostilities is in Gaza. We are not inclined to impose a ban there at this point. No plans,” Conejos said at a press conference. “You impose a ban on actual areas where conflict occurs.”

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv said Filipinos in Southern Israel, mostly caregivers, are unlikely to be affected by the Gaza violence.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, for his part, also said a deployment ban is not necessary at this time.

“I don’t think it is necessary,” Roque said, referring to a deployment ban.

Roque said the lone OFW in Gaza, a certain Ms. Balala, refused to leave the embattled Palestinian territory.

“We have a lone OFW in Gaza who works as a domestic helper there and she does not want to leave and return home,” Roque disclosed.

Labor officials pointed out that Filipino workers usually refuse repatriation even if they are in conflict areas.

He stressed that DOLE is closely working with the DFA to ensure the safety of Filipino workers in Gaza.

“The DFA will be in charge of the airlifting of our workers from Gaza and we will be providing the necessary assistance, including possible re-employment upon their return,” Roque said.

Roque added the workers returning from Gaza will be temporarily housed at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) dormitory in Pasay City.

Trapped in Gaza

The six Filipinos who had agreed to leave Gaza missed yesterday a Red Cross convoy that was to take them to the Erez border crossing in Israel because of heavy fighting.

Conejos said Filipinos in Gaza have been advised to remain indoors.

“No evacuation of foreign nationals from Gaza has taken place today (yesterday). Efforts will continue in succeeding days to evacuate Filipino nationals who decided to leave Gaza,” Conejos said.

Conejos earlier announced at a press conference that a Filipina, her four children, and a nun had agreed to leave Gaza and return to the Philippines.

Seventy Filipinos, including 19 women married to Palestinians, had originally sought repatriation to Manila.

By Saturday night, only 30 were prepared to leave Gaza because of the intense fighting.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia said on Saturday that Israel did not allow Palestinian husbands of Filipinas to leave Gaza with their families.

“That’s a national security issue,” Conejos said.

“Because of the ongoing naval, land and air operation and the dangerous situation, they feel safer to stay on. There are many who backed out,” Conejos told reporters.

Conejos said the six evacuees who missed the Red Cross convoy would only be moved out of Gaza if given safe passage by Israeli military authorities.

If the six Filipinos’ trip to Erez pushes through, Philippine embassy personnel in Israel will meet them and accompany them to Amman where they will take a Royal Jordanian Air flight to Manila.

Conejos said the “very, very fluid” situation in Gaza might even imperil the pullout of Filipinos from the war zone.

“It is very possible that this operation can be completely cancelled. There are no guarantees. In times of war no entity can guarantee the safety of our nationals,” he said.

President Arroyo has ordered Special Envoy Roy Cimatu to fly to Jordan to oversee and coordinate the repatriation of the Filipinos.

Palace ready

Malacañang is preparing to step up efforts to secure Filipinos in the Middle East or possibly evacuating some from Israel in anticipation of the escalation of hostilities in Gaza.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said a Red Cross convoy had to leave behind a group of Filipinos being readied for airlifting from Gaza “because of intense fighting.”

She said the government is even “considering” evacuating Filipinos from Israel if developments turn from bad to worse.

“Our immediate concern is the area there that is really a danger zone. But we’re closely monitoring it through our embassy and the President is being given information every time that we have an update,” she said.

Gov’t urged to take stand

Sen. Loren Legarda urged the government yesterday to make a stand and join mounting global calls for the cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

Legarda said that reports on the mounting number of civilian casualties should prompt both sides in the conflict to negotiate a peaceful end to the violence.

“Those who suffer the most in conflict areas are the civilians, especially women, children and the elderly,” she said.

“War is the scourge of mankind, thus our country must state its opposition to the costly fighting at the Gaza Strip,” she said.

“The community of nations must move for an immediate ceasefire, which is the first step to resolving the problem,” she added.

Legarda said Filipinos should not think that the Gaza conflict would have no effect on the country. “Peace and stability in the Middle East is a concern of all countries because oil prices can shoot up if the fighting there would escalate,” she explained.

“As it is, Filipinos in the conflict areas are already feeling the pressure of needing to be repatriated back to the Philippines,” Legarda said.

She also appealed to combatants to comply with international conventions governing conflict situations, especially those concerning the protection of innocent civilians.

“Considering civilian casualties as collateral damage is not acceptable.” –Pia Lee-Brago with Mayen Jaymalin, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez and Paolo Romero, Philippine Star