Coup? Israelis in Honduras say they aren't worried
Foreign Ministry issues travel warning in light of recent troubles, but Israeli businessmen say there is no sign of violence so far. Ambassador: 'I just spoke to a couple that was barbequing and planning to go out as usual'
"If this is what a revolution looks like then everything I've read in (Gabriel) Garcia Marquez's books is very nice for literature – but it doesn't hold up in reality," Yisrael Snir told Ynet on Sunday from Honduras. But Snir, an Israeli who co-owns a fish-farming company there, acknowledges that he will be staying in tonight as a curfew has been imposed following the events of the day.
The Honduran army ousted and exiled leftist President Manuel Zelaya on Sunday in Central
US: No Role in Coup
News agencies
Washington rejects claims it backed plans to oust Honduran President Zelaya, who has fled to Costa Rica after being arrested 'in his pajamas' by military troops earlier today
America's first military coup since the Cold War, triggered by his bid to make it legal to seek another term in office.
US President Barack Obama's administration and the European Union issued statements backing Zelaya, who was taken by troops from his residence and whisked away by plane to Costa Rica.
The Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning for Israelis in Honduras, urging them to refrain from being around large crowds or events of a political nature.
However both the Israeli ambassador and the Israeli consul, as well as other Israelis living in the country, are adamant that daily life has not really been disrupted.
"Because of the situation the telephone, radio, and television networks are functioning poorly – but we've been able to get a hold of the Israelis. They're all doing well, and there's no reason for them not to be, we haven't heard of any instances of violence in the streets. There have been some rallies, but no violence. I spoke to one couple that told me they were barbequing right now, and that later they planned to go out as usual. If you're not involved in politics and you don't take part in the protests there's nothing to worry about," said Yitzhak Bachman, Israeli ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras. Bachman is currently not in Honduras.
The consul, also stationed in Guatemala, said that in all that are 25 Israelis in Honduras, most living in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. They are primarily employed by or operate security firms or work in agricultural development.
Avi, and Israeli working for a Honduran security company, said he is confident the situation will not deteriorate. "The Honduran army may small but it is very loyal. They're not planning on seizing control – they only want to restore order. They've transferred control to Congress. This isn't like the dictatorships in Argentina, Chile or Brazil. People are hitting soldiers in the street but they don't hit back," he said.
Exiled President Zelaya
Photo: AFP
Honduran troops in the streets
Photo: Reuters
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