BICOM

The workers committee at Israel’s Foreign Ministry launched a full-scale strike this week as a dispute with the Finance Ministry over pay and conditions remains unresolved.

Earlier this month, Foreign Ministry workers rejected what they regarded as a derisory offer from the Finance Ministry following a seven-month mediation period. Consular services at Israeli missions across the world were subsequently suspended. However, with no resolution in sight, Foreign Ministry workers this week launched an all-out strike closing the ministry building itself in Jerusalem and all the country’s embassies and consulates worldwide in an unprecedented action.

A statement from the workers committee announced an “indefinite” strike, saying that, “Today, for the first time in Israel’s history, the Foreign Ministry will be closed and no work will be done in any sphere under the ministry’s authority.” Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the decision “irresponsible” and said, “This move has no benefit, and will only cause more damage to the ministry’s workers.” Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has threatened disciplinary action against Foreign Ministry workers involved in the strike.

However, diplomatic staff argue that their salaries are low and have not been updated for a decade, and do not take into account the rising cost of living. In addition, they say that conditions do not take into account the lost earnings of spouses who accompany diplomats abroad. As a result, Foreign Ministry workers point out that one third of Israeli diplomats quit within 10 years and that serious damage is being done to the country’s foreign diplomatic service.

The strike has already had a high-profile impact. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to cancel an official visit to Mexico, Panama and Colombia next month while Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon also scrapped a visit to Rome to discuss military cooperation with Italy. Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights Council yesterday debated five resolutions targeting Israel, but due to the strike there was no official Israeli representation in attendance.