Israel taps Cochini-Indian tradition to boost tourism

Mumbai: Israel will tap the Cochini-Indian tradition to promote tourism in southern Negev, where a ''moshav'' (collective agricultural settlement) has been allocated one million shekels for the purpose.

"We all recognise the contribution of the Cochini community in making the desert bloom. The move to turn Nevatim (Cochini agricultural settlement in south Israel) into a tourist attraction was initiated by our Nobel laureate President Shimon Peres himself," a representative of the Keren Kayemet foundation said.

Peres served as the minister for developing the Negev and the northern bordering areas during his vice premiership, before being elected President, and was closely connected to the Cochini community in Nevatim.

He also participated in a special event two years ago in the agricultural settlement to celebrate 50 years of immigration of Cochini Jews to Israel, praising their contribution in the development of the Negev desert.

Members of the Cochini community said efforts are underway to turn the settlement into a replica of their place of origin in Kerala.