OFW deployment ban to Israel lifted

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recommended to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) the lifting of the deployment ban to Israel after it issued a public advisory yesterday on the lifting of alert levels in Gaza and Israel.

“In view of improved security conditions in Israel and Gaza as a result of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the DFA Travel Advisory issued on 23 November 2012, which advised Filipinos to defer travel to Gaza and central and southern Israel in view of the Israel-Hamas conflict, is now lifted,” the advisory said.

Alert level 2 (Restriction Phase) for central and southern Israel and Alert level 4 (Evacuation/Mandatory Repatriation) for Gaza that were raised last Nov. 20 were likewise lifted.

“We already informed the POEA of the lifting of the alert levels in Israel and Gaza. They need to issue a board resolution to lift the deployment ban,” said DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez.

The Israeli embassy in Manila welcomed the DFA’s lifting of the ban.

Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar-On said that the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel was not a constructive decision, even if he expressed optimism that it would be lifted within a few days.

Israel asked the Philippines to lift the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers because events have calmed down since the implementation of ceasefire with Hamas.

Bar-On expressed his country’s concerns on the deployment ban to Israel during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jesus Yabes.

The Ambassador also expressed the satisfaction of Israeli employers regarding the hard work and professional attitude of the Filipino workers.

The Philippines defended last Dec. 1 its decision to impose a ban on the deployment of Filipinos to Israel, saying the government has the sovereign duty and prerogative to protect all its nationals, especially those in conflict areas.