Kathmandu : Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder held a courtesy meeting with National Assembly (NA) Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal on Tuesday at the latter’s office. It is said that the two discussed issues of diplomatic relations between the two countries and mutual cooperation.
During the meeting, NA Chairperson Dahal said that it had been already 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Israel and expressed his confidence that the ties between the two countries would be stronger and closer in the coming days.
Stating that Nepal was in favor of peace, Dahal asserted, “We are always in favor of peace and stability in the Middle East. The mutual cooperation between Nepal and Israel in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations has further strengthened the ties between the two countries.”
Mentioning that Nepal’s peace process was coming to an end after an enduring conflict, the Head of the Upper House said that Nepal was now on the path of economic prosperity. Furthermore, he expressed grief over the untoward incidents that happened to Nepali citizens who went to Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ programme and thus urged the Israeli Envoy to take initiative to search for missing Nepali student Bipin Joshi.
It may be noted that a total of 10 Nepalis youths lost their lives in the Hamas militant group’s attack on October 7, 2023 in Gaza while the whereabouts of Joshi are still unknown.
Stating that around 4,000 Nepalis migrant workers were presently working in Israel, he voiced his concern over their safety and employment. Citing that a notable number of tourists from Israel have been visiting Nepal lately, Chairperson Dahal appealed to Ambassador Goder to contribute to the promotion of tourism in Nepal.
In response, Israeli Envoy Goder said that Israel and Nepal shared a close bond and praised that Nepal was rich in arts, cultures, traditions and tourist places. Stating that he had an opportunity to work in Nepal for a long time, he viewed that Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), Lumbini, Chitwan, Pokhara, Rara and other tourist destinations had given recognition to Nepal in the world.
He shared that the ‘Earn and Learn’ programme had been started in his initiation and many Nepalis were doing good in Nepal after learning skills in Israel.
According to him, he had visited the houses of families of the victims from Nepal in that unfortunate incident. He shared that the government of Israel had pledged to provide support, however small it would be, to the families of the Nepali students who died in Israel.
Efforts were being made at present for the search and rescue of missing Bipin Joshi, he informed.
