Workers at the Foreign Ministry initiated a harsh new round of labor sanctions, potentially jeopardizing visits of foreign dignitaries and planned trips abroad by Israeli officials. The strike, which has also temporarily suspended all consular services to Israelis abroad, came after months-long talks with the Finance Ministry broke down earlier in the week. If no solution is found to the rekindled labor dispute, the strike could endanger the upcoming visits to Israel by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Pope Francis.
Notices of the work stoppage were posted on embassy and consulate websites worldwide (Photo: The Embassy of Israel to the United States)
Escalating their battle over theirs wages and working conditions, Israeli diplomats have gone on strike, effectively shutting down embassies and consulates worldwide. The work stoppage against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began Tuesday, said the Foreign Service Workers’ Union. “Israel’s diplomats will no longer engage with foreign representatives, take care of official visits of any kind, either in Israel or overseas, issue visas or provide any consular services,” the union said Wednesday in an announcement. “This is just part of an extended list of organizational measures which will take effect immediately.” Exceptions are being made for Israelis whose lives are in danger and for bodies that must be returned to Israel for burial.
The strike is the second since summer and follows seven months of mediation, which was directed by a former chief justice of the Labor Court. The union blamed the Foreign Ministry and its “finance bureaucrats” for the breakdown.
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