Inflation to shutdowns: Indian-Israeli entrepreneur on how war hits Israel's economy
Indian-Israeli restaurateur Reena Pushkarna described how the prolonged war has disrupted business and daily life in Israel. She said falling tourism, rising prices and restaurant closures have deepened economic strain, even as India extended support.
As Israel continues to grapple with a prolonged conflict across multiple fronts, businesses and daily life remain under severe strain. In this context, India Today speaks with Reena Pushkarna, an Indian-Israeli entrepreneur and restaurateur, whose acclaimed Tel Aviv restaurant chain, Tandoori, has built a stellar reputation. So much so that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a loyal customer. “Netanyahu loves Indian food, and this is where he met his wife for the first time,” Pushkarna said while talking to India Today’s Shivani Sharma.
‘It has been tough,’ Pushkarna had an instant reply ready when she was asked about the situation of ongoing businesses amid Israel’s prolonged struggles in the last two-and-a-half years. Elaborating further, the entrepreneur noted, “Tourism has not come back. People are scared to visit because they don't realise that even though it's affected the country, it's not affected homes, it's more on the border. All that is taking place on the border, even though now it's Star Wars, you don't know when the missiles and when the drones will come in.
Along with the fear of being subjected to war violence, Pushkarna also revealed that inflation has surged in the country, with prices of essential commodities skyrocketing over time. “Prices of groceries have gone up by almost 30 per cent. Essential items like Basmati rice are becoming difficult to procure. Petrol prices have also increased here, just like in India,” she said.
With rising costs, many businesspeople in Israel have found it difficult to navigate through the situation. “The war situation has created major uncertainties, and as a result, nearly 400 restaurants have been shut down. The business economy has been severely impacted,” she said.
Amid the difficulties, New Delhi has stood by Tel Aviv, said the 68-year-old entrepreneur. “India has offered us tremendous support during the difficult time,” she said.
Pushkarna also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel, expressing her deep admiration for the Indian leader. "I'm a big fan of Prime Minister Modi and have had the honour of knowing him for the last 25 years," she said. "For us Indians living here, his visit was a massive compliment—it felt like a brother was coming to visit you."
Talking about the atmosphere during the visit, she noted how it brought a profound sense of comfort to the community. "Even though nobody knew the war was going to break out just days later, when he arrived, we felt incredibly secure and happy," Pushkarna shared. "We were overjoyed to see him speak in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). I couldn't actually be there in the audience because I was stuck in the hotel basement with my chefs, cooking for the entire Indian delegation. But it wasn't just the Indian diaspora; the Israelis themselves were deeply touched by his visit."
As Israel continues to grapple with a prolonged conflict across multiple fronts, businesses and daily life remain under severe strain. In this context, India Today speaks with Reena Pushkarna, an Indian-Israeli entrepreneur and restaurateur, whose acclaimed Tel Aviv restaurant chain, Tandoori, has built a stellar reputation. So much so that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a loyal customer. “Netanyahu loves Indian food, and this is where he met his wife for the first time,” Pushkarna said while talking to India Today’s Shivani Sharma.
‘It has been tough,’ Pushkarna had an instant reply ready when she was asked about the situation of ongoing businesses amid Israel’s prolonged struggles in the last two-and-a-half years. Elaborating further, the entrepreneur noted, “Tourism has not come back. People are scared to visit because they don't realise that even though it's affected the country, it's not affected homes, it's more on the border. All that is taking place on the border, even though now it's Star Wars, you don't know when the missiles and when the drones will come in.
Along with the fear of being subjected to war violence, Pushkarna also revealed that inflation has surged in the country, with prices of essential commodities skyrocketing over time. “Prices of groceries have gone up by almost 30 per cent. Essential items like Basmati rice are becoming difficult to procure. Petrol prices have also increased here, just like in India,” she said.
With rising costs, many businesspeople in Israel have found it difficult to navigate through the situation. “The war situation has created major uncertainties, and as a result, nearly 400 restaurants have been shut down. The business economy has been severely impacted,” she said.
Amid the difficulties, New Delhi has stood by Tel Aviv, said the 68-year-old entrepreneur. “India has offered us tremendous support during the difficult time,” she said.
Pushkarna also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel, expressing her deep admiration for the Indian leader. "I'm a big fan of Prime Minister Modi and have had the honour of knowing him for the last 25 years," she said. "For us Indians living here, his visit was a massive compliment—it felt like a brother was coming to visit you."
Talking about the atmosphere during the visit, she noted how it brought a profound sense of comfort to the community. "Even though nobody knew the war was going to break out just days later, when he arrived, we felt incredibly secure and happy," Pushkarna shared. "We were overjoyed to see him speak in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). I couldn't actually be there in the audience because I was stuck in the hotel basement with my chefs, cooking for the entire Indian delegation. But it wasn't just the Indian diaspora; the Israelis themselves were deeply touched by his visit."
