Israel’s ex-envoy to India named chairperson of Adani’s Haifa Port, Mahua Moitra reacts

The former ambassador of Israel to India, Ron Malka has said that he has assumed charge as the Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company (HPC). The port company is owned by a consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Gadot Group.

On Sunday, the former diplomat announced his new role on Twitter,''I'm honoured 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.''

As the embattled Adani group limps back from the allegations mounted by Hindenburg Research's scathing report, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra lashed out stating that Malka had vouched for billionaire Gautam Adani's business deals in Israel.

She further said 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.

"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.

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 this year at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.

A consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July last year to privatise the strategic Port of Haifa in Israel for USD 1.18 billion.

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.