In a recent development amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Menahem Pal, a 72-year-old former chief agronomist of Israel born in Kerala, criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel, calling it poorly timed and potentially damaging. Pal, who was invited as a guest to the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv during Modi’s visit, expressed concerns that the trip may have created a perception of political support for the recent attack on Iran.
Pal recounted that he and his son had to seek shelter in a bunker twice on Sunday morning after air raid sirens blared across Israel. Speaking to The Telegraph over the phone, Pal explained that he was invited by the Indian embassy in Israel to attend joint statements made by Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following high-level talks in Jerusalem last Thursday.
He criticized the timing of Modi’s visit, noting that rumors of an imminent attack on Iran had been circulating for some time. “Modi’s two-day visit happened at a most inopportune time. Soon after his return, it became quite evident that U.S. President Donald Trump was prepared to authorize an attack on Iran at any moment,” Pal said.
Pal, who has lived through Israel’s ongoing conflicts, described how daily life has been dominated by the threat of war, with long hours spent in bunkers. “For every Israeli, daily existence is a struggle. Schools and colleges have closed, only essential services remain open, and people are advised to stay home and seek shelter when sirens sound,” he added.
The comments come amid heightened regional tensions and the ongoing crisis over Iran’s nuclear program, with many questioning the timing and implications of recent diplomatic visits and military actions in the region.