Israel’s former ambassador to India, Ron Malka, on Sunday said that he has assumed charge as the executive chairman of Haifa Port Company, which is owned by a consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Gadot Group.
“I’m honored and privileged to take office today as Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company, on behalf of @AdaniOnline. The experience and expertise of Adani and Gadot, combined with the dedication of the port workers, will take Haifa Port to new heights of prosperity,” Malka tweeted.
As the embattled Adani group limps back from the allegations mounted by Hindenburg Research’s scathing report, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra reacted to the appointment stating that Malka had vouched for billionaire Gautam Adani’s business deals in Israel. She added that the former diplomat had also slammed Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who had come under fire last year for his comments against Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ at the International Film Festival of India.
{{/usCountry}}As the embattled Adani group limps back from the allegations mounted by Hindenburg Research’s scathing report, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra reacted to the appointment stating that Malka had vouched for billionaire Gautam Adani’s business deals in Israel. She added that the former diplomat had also slammed Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who had come under fire last year for his comments against Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ at the International Film Festival of India.
{{/usCountry}}“Israel’s former envoy to India appointed Adani’s Haifa port chairman! This man screamed from rooftops about how clean Adani’s Israeli dealings were. Condemned filmmaker Nadav Lapid for criticising Bollywood Hindutva propaganda film. Adani Hamam Mein toh Saare Nange Hai,” Moitra tweeted.
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Malka served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018 to 2021. The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.
The Adani Group officially took over the Israeli port in January at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.
Israel expects that the Adani Group's major entry into the country will lead to more Indian investments, especially in the fields of renewable energy and defence.
(With inputs from PTI)