MANILA, Philippines - Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss confirmed on Tuesday that there are 17 Filipino government officials “stranded” in Israel due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
In a media interview, Fluss said that the group came to Israel for a study visit, comprising of 17 mayors and local government officials; while another group is visiting to learn about dairy farming and sharing of best practices.
There is also one other Filipino who is a member of the LGBTQ community attending an advocacy program, Fluss confirmed.
Overall, there are 22 Filipinos visiting under sponsored programs in Israel.
“We are doing our best to get them out as soon and as early as possible,” Fluss said.
“There are different routes. You have to understand that we are under fire. For the protection and safety, we are trying to facilitate the way out,” he added.
The Ambassador further explained that there are many other countries in the region, and special permits are needed from other governments to secure safe passage to all who want to leave Israel via land travel.
“This is what we are trying to do now and I really hope that very soon we can announce that they are on the way home, but we’re not there yet, so we have to wait patiently and I know they’re very anxious to get back home and we totally understand and we do whatever we can in order to help them get home,” Fluss said.
Meanwhile, the Mashav Israel Agency for Development Cooperation, the organization in charge of organizing Israel-sponsored programs, is hopeful that the government officials will be able to go home within the week.
“Everything is being done for the safe travel as soon as possible, hopefully already this week. All expenses are being fully financed by the government of Israel,” Irit Savion Waidergorn, Deputy Head of MASHAV said in an interview with the media during a project launching in Manila on Tuesday.
Waidergorn also gave assurances on the safety of the Filipinos while in Israel, amidst the missile attacks between the country and Iran, although she mentioned that “all of them” have signified their intention to leave as soon as possible.
“They’re safe. Their accommodations, their meals, all their needs are being catered, and there are safe rooms and shelters, public shelters in [this] hotel,” she said.
Meanwhile, Waidergorn mentioned that Israel’s consular services are already in touch with Jordanian authorities to secure safe passage for the Filipinos via Jordan, and go home safely.
“We would like to see all our guests going home back safely, and we will make everything possible on our side to make sure the trip and the travel will be safe,” she emphasized.
The 17, composed mainly of mayors and at least two members of the House of Representatives, came to Israel to take part in MASHAV’s study tour on urban agriculture and green cities.
Waidergorn explained that the delegation, along with four other groups of local government officials from Asia, Africa and Latin America, was supposed to participate in the Muni Expo 2025 that was scheduled to take place on June 15 to 19.
“We were very happy and very excited that they came, but the situation has changed, and we are making sure to do everything— that they will be safe and that they will be able to leave Israel as soon as possible,” Waidergorn said.
