The Ton News, Kathmandu — Former Government Secretary Bhim Upadhyay held a high-level courtesy meeting with Israel’s Ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, discussing bilateral relations, Middle East tensions, and future cooperation opportunities.
The meeting, held at Upadhyay’s residence, lasted for nearly one and a half hours and covered a wide range of strategic issues, including the long-standing Nepal–Israel relationship, technological collaboration, employment opportunities, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East along with possible paths toward peace.
During the discussion, Ambassador Bass reportedly expressed concern that Nepal has not been giving sufficient priority to its relationship with Israel. He also noted with surprise Nepal’s consistent voting stance against Israel in proposals at the United Nations, highlighting the need for a more balanced diplomatic approach.
In response, Upadhyay expressed optimism that Nepal’s new government could adopt a fresh and more constructive diplomatic direction. He emphasized that Nepal has much to learn from Israel, particularly in areas such as technology, innovation, and scientific advancement, despite Israel being smaller in size and population.
Ambassador Bass reaffirmed that Israel has always supported Nepal with sincerity, especially in providing technical assistance and employment opportunities, and added that there is still significant potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Both sides acknowledged that Nepal can draw valuable lessons from Israel’s rapid development and its emergence as a global technological powerhouse. Strengthening bilateral ties, they agreed, could bring mutual benefits and open new avenues for collaboration.
Upadhyay described the meeting as highly insightful, stating that he gained deeper understanding of Israel and Middle Eastern geopolitics. The two sides also agreed to continue such engagements in the future to further enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.
The meeting is seen as a positive step toward revitalizing Nepal–Israel relations and exploring new dimensions of partnership in the years ahead.
