Foreign Ministry officials are angry after having learned the reports of 15 Israeli employees of the Ashtrom Company being held hostage by 300 Chinese laborers in the Caribbean last week were a scam and nothing more – intended to enlist assistance in extricating themselves from a business deal gone sour.

It appears they were never held hostage and they called for diplomatic intervention to resolve the labor dispute. Israeli Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Amos Radian condemned the actions of the construction company and its employees, stating they took advantage of the government’s policy of coming to the assistance of any Israelis in trouble, anywhere in the world. “It was nothing more than an imaginary situation involving three Israelis who duped the government and their families to extricate themselves from a monetary crisis.”

Radian explains that he has since learned that at no point was there 15 Israelis being held hostage over a salary issue for the laborers. The Israelis interviews, along with family members, duped the public into believing they are in a life-threatening situation when in actuality, this was never the case.

“I was in touch with two Israelis who were there and they showed me some horrific photos, even suggesting we deploy a military rescue to get them out safe. They said the Chinese could storm their rooms with knives and weapons at any moment. Local police reported that was not the case and the Chinese never made any such threats against the Israelis.”

It now appears the 15 Israelis were actually three and the 300 Chinese were 60. it appears the three were subcontractors for Ashtrom, responsible for electrical work, employing the Chinese laborers, who were not paid their salaries for the past three months.

“The other Israelis were not involved and remained in the area in a showing of solidarity their colleagues. They were able to come and go as they please. The reports of hostages and captives was totally fictitious,” the ambassador added.

At the end of the day, a major Chilul Hashem and Ashtrom paid the Chinese workers the money due them, totaling about $1 million.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)