Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement on its official social media account that it was forced to close its foreign missions on October 30 because the ministry had unilaterally changed decades-long agreements in violation of the agreement reached in July.
Israeli embassies and consulates will be closed indefinitely from October 30 because of a dispute with the finance ministry over subsidies, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
In fact, this is not the first time Israeli diplomats have gone on strike. Israeli diplomats, who have long complained about low wages and poor working conditions, have reportedly called strikes every few years through trade unions. In January 2011, strikes even forced then-russian President dmitry medvedev to postpone a visit to Israel. In March 2014, Israel closed its foreign ministry headquarters and embassies around the world in the first full-scale strike by Israeli diplomats since Israel was founded in 1948, haaretz reported. In an all-out strike, diplomats closed 102 Israeli embassies and missions, canceled a series of visits to Israel and to the Israeli prime minister, and paralyzed much of Israel's diplomacy with other countries and the United Nations.
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In addition to the Israeli foreign ministry and finance ministry are "fighting", Israel likud and the blue and white party are "fighting"! Israel has been locked in political deadlock for months. After the second parliamentary election in September, the blue and white party won 33 seats, making it the largest party in parliament. Likud came second with 32 seats. But neither side nor their respective political camps have won a majority, making the process of forming a government difficult. At the time, both Mr. Ganz and Mr. Netanyahu said they wanted a coalition government, but neither side was willing to budge.Gantz told reporters that the blue and white party won more seats than likud and that netanyahu did not have the majority needed to form a government, so he should form a coalition government and be the prime minister of the new government. "We will listen to everyone, but we will not accept imposed directives," Mr. Ganz said. He told reporters he wanted a "good and satisfactory coalition government" but refused to join forces with likud, citing corruption and other charges against Mr. Netanyahu. Mr. Netanyahu denies all the charges.Several media reported that the blue and white parties and likud met with their political Allies after the election to discuss forming a government. Israeli newspaper haaretz commented that netanyahu's strategy has been to hold another election. Mr. Netanyahu, who faces possible charges in three corruption cases, had been hoping for a parliamentary majority that would give him immunity. Haaretz said Mr. Netanyahu hoped to win over more voters by giving him more time in another election. If ganz fails, perhaps israelis will indeed go to the polls for the third time in a year.Regardless of whether netanyahu or ganz form a government, major changes in Israeli foreign policy, including relations with the United States, Iran and the palestinians, are unlikely, Reuters reported.
This has the biggest impact on israelis abroad. If they need consular help, such as a lost passport or medical emergency, it will not happen anytime soon. The addition of the defense ministry will also harm Israel's cooperation with other countries in defense. The closure of diplomatic missions around the world is expected to have a negative impact on Israel's foreign relations and security, and israelis could face their third general election in less than a year, newsweek said.
Israeli media reported that the strike stemmed from a dispute between the Israeli foreign ministry and the Ministry of Finance over compensation for diplomats and military attaches. The Ministry of Finance plans to introduce a new reimbursement system under which diplomats and military attaches will have to refund part of their reimbursed allowances. To put it simply, the Israeli foreign and finance ministries have been at odds over such things as payments to diplomats and military attaches abroad. According to The Times of Israel, Israel's finance ministry has been pushing for a new reimbursement system that would require diplomats to deduct expenses incurred while abroad from their salaries and tax them at a rate of 40 percent. Previously, some of their expenses abroad could be reimbursed. Israel's finance ministry said diplomats should pay taxes like all other israelis and that they "cannot be above the law". Israeli diplomats are not happy. In a statement, the foreign ministry said Israeli diplomats were committed to Israel's lasting development, but that the finance ministry's decision "hurts Israel's vital interests." So the Israeli foreign and defense ministries and the Israeli federation of trade unions called the strike and closed all Israeli embassies and consulates. Consular protection and other services are no longer provided during the strike. "Hopefully this crisis will be resolved as soon as possible."
