India: Eastern allure
Photo: AFP
Israeli backpackers in India lose safe haven
Israeli hikers in India could always rely on the ‘Safe Home’ (Bayit Cham) run by the Israeli government to bail them out of trouble. Now India’s authorities shut it down
It didn’t matter if your passport and money were stolen, you needed to get in touch with the family back home urgently, or simply got into trouble with drugs. As an Israeli backpacker in India, you could always turn to the Safe Home (Bayit Cham) run by the Israeli government for help with any and all problems. Now, however, this safe haven for Israelis away from home, was shut down by the Indian government due to a diplomatic dispute.
Young Israeli men and women have traditionally celebrated the end of their mandatory military service with travel abroad, spending a year backpacking, working, or just taking a break from the stress and demands of the preceding years.
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India with its exotic appeal has always been a favorite post-military destination for young Israelis. Along with Indian’s enchanting Eastern allure, however, many youngsters also fallen prey to India’s drug culture and the assortment of hallucinogenic drugs that is readily available in the country.
The Anti Drug Authority, in partnership with the Israel Anti Drug Abuse Foundation, established the Safe Home as a welcoming environment for young Israelis in India.
Two locations exist, in Goa and Manali, where Israelis in India can seek information about drugs, have a connection to other Israelis, get help and counseling for those already in too deep and, when the most extreme cases arise, a caring environment with which to intercede at any level. The Safe Home also helps stranded backpackers and all other Israelis who encounter any problems while in India.
Recently, however, Indian authorities have asked the Israeli Ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, to close down the Safe Home, and have refused to grant its workers visas to enter the country, because they feel that the Safe Home is attempting to illegally establish a business in India.
The Safe Home has thus been temporarily closed unit this diplomatic saga can be resolved. The Anti Drug authority stated that they merely serve as an adjunct of the Israeli Embassy and Foreign Ministry in India.
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“Every time an Israeli is in trouble, has an accident, or gets into trouble with drugs, Safe Home personnel are there to help him out,” said Anti Drug Authority Personnel. They also noted that, among its other efforts, the Safe Home helped the Israeli Embassy track down kidnapped IDF soldier, Ehud Goldwasser’s, brother who was backpacking in India when Goldwasser was kidnapped.“We help young women who are raped,” Safe Home personnel added, “as well as backpackers who lose their passports or money. Thousands of Israeli families owe their loved one’s lives to this safe, warm environment.” They also noted that “it is mind-boggling that the Israeli Embassy could always rely on us to help them out, but yet could not help us out with the proper permits.”
Israelis in Goa. (Photo:Avigail Uzi)
The Foreign Ministry noted in response that “when we operate in a foreign country, we must respect the rules of regulations of the country in question. Israel would ask the same of any foreign agency operating within its borders. We had always supported the Safe Home, and are shocked that its personnel blame the Israeli Embassy for this losing.”
