Anti-corruption movement in Nepal exposes Israeli ties

Nepal’s youth-driven movement has intensified scrutiny of longstanding ties between Kathmandu and the Israeli regime, drawing attention to the presence of Israeli settlers—many with military backgrounds—amid rising political unrest.

An estimated 7,000–10,000 Israelis visit Nepal each year, with an active embassy monitoring their activities, and in 2013, a national park trail was even renamed the "Israel Trail" due to the country's popularity among Israelis.

Around 200 Israelis are currently sheltering in the Chabad House in Kathmandu as the city remains on lockdown following anti-corruption protests over lack of economic opportunities and cronyism.

The Israeli regime quietly released a travel advisory calling on its people in the country to stay indoors or vacate the Himalayan nation lest the unrest spread.

It is common knowledge that many of the backpackers and tourists in Nepal are mostly comprised of Israeli military personnel, particularly those with physical disabilities—many of whom had been injured during the genocidal war on Gaza—who seek treatment through initiatives like hiking Nepal’s Annapurna Mountain, organized by the Erez Foundation, a group founded and led by former Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Shimon Pariente.

“This year, we’re especially seeing lots of post-traumatic stress at a level we haven’t seen in years,” Pariente told Israeli media.

Grieving families of protesters seek justice, hundreds seek to leave Nepal

Grieving families of protesters killed by police during violent protests in Nepal this week gathered in the capital.

Nepal is considered an important ally of the Israeli regime in South Asia. It was the first in the region to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in 1960. The two countries have enjoyed strong bilateral ties, with consistent Israeli influence in Nepal’s culture, trade, and agriculture.

To show loyalty, the ruling elite in Kathmandu were quick to condemn the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas's operation against the Zionist regime on October 7, 2023.

More significantly, the Israeli regime has equipped and taken control of the modernization of the Nepalese army and taken charge of the country’s security in times of crisis—perhaps making the Zionist regime’s role more significant as far as the current circumstances are concerned.

The Israeli regime is a key contributor to Nepal’s remittances-dependent economy, which forms 33 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product—the fourth-highest in the world. According to analysts, youth unemployment (ages 15–24) hovers at 20 percent.

Nepal is also a source of cheap labor for the Israeli regime. Through a government-to-government recruitment deal, around 700 Nepalis have traveled to Israel over the past year to work as caregivers.

There have been reported cases where Nepali workers in Israel faced racism, threats, physical abuse, and forced labor conditions—including long hours, withheld wages, poor living conditions, and restricted movement.

Further reflecting the country’s political elite's attachment to the Zionist regime, as far back as 1960, BP Koirala, the country's leader, is said to have “indicated a desire to send Nepalese officers for training in the Israel Army.”

Though remittances form the lifeblood of the economy, several writers over the past year have urged Nepal not to send workers to Israel as a means to steer clear of the unfolding genocide in Gaza.

Kanak Mani Dixit, a journalist, argued that "Israel seeks to fulfil its labour shortage by recruiting workers from Nepal, thereby putting their lives and limbs in jeopardy."

"Along with the right to life of Nepali workers, the attempt to send them to Israel at this time raises the question of whether the Nepali state is aiding and abetting Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people," Dixit added.

According to the Himalayan Times, there are around 5,000 Nepalis working in Israel.

The protests have revealed widespread resentment in Nepal over corruption and nepotism among the political and economic elite, who have maintained close ties with the Zionist regime for over six decades. 

Protesters defy curfew in Nepal, hold anti-corruption demonstrations

Demonstrators in Nepal defy an indefinite curfew while shouting slogans against the prime minister.

At least 19 protesters aged 18 to 25 were killed and 400 were injured on Monday when police fired rubber bullets and live rounds at demonstrations sparked by a social media ban on September 4 amid economic hardship and government corruption.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the "Gen Z" movement, the group said they believe "Nepal's future leadership must be free from entrenched political party affiliations, fully independent, and selected on the basis of competence, integrity, and qualifications."

"We demand a transparent and stable government that works in the interest of the people and not for the benefit of corrupt individuals or political elites," the group added.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk