PHL envoy: Amid tension, Pinoys in Israel taking conflict in stride


Despite the ongoing fighting in Israel, Filipinos there continue to take everything "in stride," the Philippine ambassador there said Monday.

 
Ambassador Generoso Calonge said that as of early Monday (in Manila), no Filipino has been reported killed or injured in the fighting.
 
"They are taking things in stride. Sa Gaza tinawagan namin sila sa hapon, okay sila so far," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
So far, he said Israel's "Iron Dome" anti-missile defense has been effective., though roads leading to Gaza have been closed.
 
On the other hand, Calonge said daily life in Tel-Aviv goes on as usual, as if nothing happened.
 
"Pumunta ako sa palengke, maraming tao. Kung mas kaunti dahil sa ambon, palamig dito. Ang level of activity walang pagbabago halos sa Tel-Aviv," he said.
 
On Sunday, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras also said Filipinos in Israel have preferred to stay for now, amid government preparations for their possible evacuation.
 
A Presidential Communications Operations Office news release quoted Almendras as saying this was the sentiment of Filipino workers contacted so far by the Philippine Embassy.
 
He said Filipino workers contacted in the affected areas "said that they would prefer to stay in their respective posts in the meantime." 
 
But Almendras said the Philippine Embassy in Egypt has formed a team to assist Filipinos if the situation escalates further.
 
He added that if the Filipinos decide to move out, the Philippine Embassy in Egypt will be ready to help them.
 
Citing figures from Department of Foreign Affairs SEcretary Albert del Rosario, Almendras said there are 100 Filipinos in the Gaza area and 41,000 in Israel.
 
Renewed tensions erupted in Palestine and Israel as Israeli and Hamas forces engaged in attacks.
 
Rapid response teams
 
Meanwhile, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the department will be sending rapid response teams to Israel and Egypt.
 
"Pati ito sa paghanda ng possible evacuation," he said in an interview on dzRH radio.

Since last week, Israel launched air strikes in Gaza, asserting its right to protect itself from rocket attacks.
 
Israel's military claimed its target was a rocket mastermind of the Islamic Jihad militant group Hamas, according to the Huffington Post.
 
The report quoted Israel officials as saying the air strikes sought to end rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled area. — RSJ, GMA News

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