by Our Diplomatic Affairs Editor
As Israel faces a rapidly changing security landscape in the Middle East, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar, who is concurrently accredited as the non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan, has outlined Jerusalem’s security priorities, diplomatic outlook, and concerns surrounding migration issues affecting Sri Lankan nationals in Israel in an exclusive interview with Sri Lanka Guardian.
In the wide-ranging conversation, Ambassador Azar addressed Israel’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, the prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East, and the growing importance of cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. Discussing Israel’s recent actions against Iran, he said Israel and the United States had removed what he described as “two imminent existential threats” — Iran’s nuclear military ambitions and its ballistic missile program. He stressed that any future agreement with Tehran must include “zero enrichment on Iranian soil and zero fissile material,” supported by “intrusive and verifiable inspections” and effective enforcement mechanisms.
The ambassador also spoke on one of the most sensitive issues affecting Sri Lanka–Israel relations: the status of Sri Lankan nationals who are residing in Israel without valid visas. While noting that approximately 30,000 Sri Lankans are legally employed in Israel and contribute significantly to both countries, Ambassador Azar warned that those who overstay their visas or misuse asylum procedures could undermine opportunities available to other Sri Lankan workers.
“Those who overstay their visas and those who apply for asylum in Israel… are abusing our laws and regulations and are putting in danger the opportunities for other Sri Lankans to enjoy high income job opportunities,” Ambassador Azar said.
He added that Israel remains in communication with Sri Lankan authorities on labor mobility and repatriation issues, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that migration takes place through “safe, legal, and regulated channels” that protect both workers and employers.
The exclusive interview with Ambassador Reuven Azar explores Israel’s evolving security calculations, its vision for regional stability, its expanding engagement with countries including Sri Lanka, and the challenges surrounding migration management between the two nations.
Following are the excerpts,
Q: Given the emerging US–Iran peace framework, what are Israel’s key security concerns that remain unresolved, and how could they affect regional stability?
Ans: Israel and the United States have taken decisive military action against the theocratic regime in Iran, which has repeatedly sworn to annihilate the State of Israel and engaged in aggression against the region and the world. We removed two imminent existential threats: The nuclear military threat – Iran was sneaking out to a nuclear weapon and after we hit their facilities, they tried to bury them underground so we conducted a second strike; and the ballistic missile threat – Iran was building an arsenal of thousands of ballistic missiles, which it was planning to launch at Israel while sending its proxy armies to invade us, so we destroyed their industry. We are grateful to the United States for conducting this operation with us and making our region much safer. The test for diplomacy is whether it succeeds in removing the nuclear, ballistic and proxy armies’ threats permanently and secure peace in the region for the long term.
At this point in time, key issues remain unaddressed. The MOU signed is an interim agreement, so Israel will continue to engage with the United States to make sure that they are tackled. Failure to address them properly and verifiably would be a recipe for renewed military confrontation.
Q: How does Israel assess the long-term threat from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and what safeguards are essential in any future agreement?
A: Israel will not agree to live under a threat of annihilation from a regime equipped with military nuclear capability and a massive ballistic missile program. Any future agreement must include zero enrichment on Iranian soil and zero fissile material. They have cheated the IAEA in the past and cannot be trusted again. Intrusive and verifiable inspections, effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms that carry real consequences for violations must be established. Caps on Iran’s ballistic missile program would have to be established.
Q: As global power dynamics shift, how does Israel view the growing influence of China, Russia, and emerging powers in the Middle East and Indian Ocean region?
A: Powers which seek influence can play a stabilizing role by refraining from supporting the Islamic republic of Iran’s aggression and attempts to destabilize the region. A good example is the international community’s refusal of Iran’s attempt to alter interpretation of Customary International Law and the Law of the Sea. International waterways will remain free, including the straits of Hormuz. These powers must also demand from the Iranian regime to stop breaching the UN Charter by threatening another member state of the UN with annihilation.
Israel’s approach is based on realism, dialogue, and on protecting its national interests while contributing to regional stability. We maintain relations with many countries across the world and believe that cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, energy, trade, food security, and connectivity can benefit societies and create shared prosperity.
At the same time, lasting regional stability requires respect for sovereignty, adherence to international norms, and a commitment to countering terrorism and destabilizing activities.
The Indian Ocean region is increasingly important for global trade, energy security, and connectivity. Israel sees great potential for cooperation with countries in this region, including Sri Lanka, particularly in areas such as maritime security, technology, agriculture, water management, and innovation.
Israel will continue to engage with countries across the globe while strengthening alliances with those who share a vision of stability, security, and economic development.
Q: What is Israel’s vision for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, beyond military deterrence and ceasefire agreements?
A: Israel has been working diligently to achieve peace with its neighbors. We signed a peace treaty with Egypt and with Jordan. We offered the Palestinians a state on multiple occasions but they refused time and again, and launched instead wave after wave of terror. Countries in the Arab World refused to surrender to Palestinian intransigence and joined the famous Abraham accords six years ago.
The atrocious and barbaric terrorist attacks launched at Israel on October 7th 2023 taught us a painful lesson: We cannot achieve peace without addressing the threats from those who want to destroy us. If the radical forces are not defeated there will be no peace.
Ceasefires are a good start, provided that they are followed by sound security arrangements and initiate sincere peace negotiations. We are now negotiating peace with the Lebanese Government and are trying to make sure that the Hezbollah terrorist organization will not rearm, regroup, and prepare for the next attack. Like Hezbollah, Hamas has to comply with the Trump plan and disarm verifiably with approval from the Board of Peace. Lasting peace requires the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, the removal of extremist forces that reject coexistence, and the establishment of security conditions that allow ordinary people to live without fear.
But security is only the first step. Israel’s vision is for a West Asia where nations cooperate rather than confront one another; where investments go into education, innovation, healthcare, and economic growth instead of hatred and conflict; and where future generations inherit opportunity rather than instability.
The success of regional partnerships in recent years has demonstrated that when countries choose cooperation over extremism, the benefits are shared by all.
Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the defeat of terrorism, the rejection of extremism, and the creation of a regional order where all nations can live securely, prosper together, and focus on building a better future for their people.
Q: Reports suggest that more than 4,000 Sri Lankan nationals are currently overstaying or residing illegally in Israel. How does Israel plan to address this issue with the Sri Lankan government, and are there any discussions on regularization, voluntary return programs, labor agreements, or other long-term solutions for their future?
A: Thanks to the cooperation between our governments, thirty thousand Sri Lankans are working in Israel and earn an accumulated sum of about a billion US Dollars per year, while contributing to our economy.
Israel expects all foreign nationals residing and working in our country to comply with immigration and labor regulations. Those who overstay their visas and those who apply for asylum in Israel (6000 requests so far) claiming that Sri Lanka is an unstable country to return to are unpatriotic and ungrateful to their own country, which is completely safe, are abusing our laws and regulations and are putting in danger the opportunities for other Sri Lankans to enjoy high income job opportunities.
We maintain close communication with the Sri Lankan authorities on matters relating to labor mobility and repatriation. Our shared objective is to ensure that migration takes place through safe, legal, and regulated channels that protect both workers and employers.
Israel remains open to practical solutions, including strengthening legal labor pathways, enhancing cooperation on recruitment mechanisms, facilitating voluntary return arrangements where appropriate, and improving awareness among workers regarding their rights and obligations.
