Thailand demands Israel relocate Thai workers from near Gaza

Message comes after Thai worker becomes the third civilian fatality in Israel since Operation Protective Edge began.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Thai farm workers packing onions in central Israel. (photo credit: NATHAN WISE)
Thai farm workers packing onions in central Israel.
(photo credit: NATHAN WISE)
The government in Thailand urged Israel on Thursday to relocate the 4,000 Thai nationals currently employed in southern Israel near the Gaza border, according to a report by AFP.
The demand comes a day after a Thai national was killed by shrapnel from a mortar shell launched by Hamas in Gaza. The mortar exploded in a greenhouse and a shrapnel fragment fatally wounded the man in his neck.
The Thai man became the third civilian fatality in Israel since Operation Protective Edge began.
“The Thai Embassy has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and employers to ask them to relocate 4,000 Thai workers in agriculture estates near the Gaza strip immediately and unconditionally to safe areas 10 to 20 kilometers  away,” AFP quoted Thailand's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee as telling reporters in Bangkok.
"Abandoning the agricultural areas now will lead to huge economic damage and to a shortage of produce," said Yair Farjoun, head of the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council. He expressed sorrow over the death of the worker, saying that open areas were the workplace of farmers.

“We feel deep sadness by the death of the migrant worker,” Farjoun said. “We were prepared for the possibility that there would be loss of life. We send our condolences to the victim’s family and continue to give our backing to the IDF and the security forces.”

The Thai Embassy has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and employers to ask them to relocate 4,000 Thai workers in agriculture estates near the Gaza strip immediately and unconditionally to safe areas 10 to 20 kilometres (6-12 miles) away,” ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee told reporters in Bangkok. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/thailand-urges-israel-to-relocate-workers-after-one-national-killed#sthash.sTsDytJR.dpuf
The Thai Embassy has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and employers to ask them to relocate 4,000 Thai workers in agriculture estates near the Gaza strip immediately and unconditionally to safe areas 10 to 20 kilometres (6-12 miles) away,” ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee told reporters in Bangkok. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/thailand-urges-israel-to-relocate-workers-after-one-national-killed#sthash.sTsDytJR.dpuf
The Thai Embassy has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and employers to ask them to relocate 4,000 Thai workers in agriculture estates near the Gaza strip immediately and unconditionally to safe areas 10 to 20 kilometres (6-12 miles) away,” ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee told reporters in Bangkok. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/thailand-urges-israel-to-relocate-workers-after-one-national-killed#sthash.sTsDytJR.dpuf
The Thai Embassy has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry and employers to ask them to relocate 4,000 Thai workers in agriculture estates near the Gaza strip immediately and unconditionally to safe areas 10 to 20 kilometres (6-12 miles) away,” ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee told reporters in Bangkok. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/thailand-urges-israel-to-relocate-workers-after-one-national-killed#sthash.sTsDytJR.dpuf