๐ฎ๐ณ Israeli-run cafes in India have been denying entry to Indians, AJ+ reports.
Many of the establishments sit in backpacker hubs popular with young Israelis, often fresh out of military service. In Kasol, a Himachal Pradesh village dubbed "mini Israel," Indian visitors have described being turned away from cafes in their own country. The controversy has simmered for more than a decade, with Indian media reporting similar refusals as early as 2015.
The reports come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has drawn India closer to Israel than ever. India is now Israel's largest weapons buyer, bilateral trade has grown from $200 million in 1992 to more than $6 billion, and thousands of Indian workers were recruited to replace Palestinian laborers after October 7, 2023.
In February, Modi made his second visit to Israel and addressed the Knesset as Israeli strikes on Gaza and the genocide continued despite the ceasefire.