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Foreign Ministry workers threaten to shut down Israeli embassies
Itamar Eichner
Published: 17.03.14, 11:57
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35 Talkbacks for this article
1. what a shame Diplomats have NO HONOR AND LOVE FOR THE STATE
(03.17.14)
2. Please..give me a break
Al   (03.17.14)
most of these dummies only got the job because of protextia. They can't advocate for Israel. They have poor language skills and more often than not they do a very poor job at their supposed job. Get professional people to do this work, cut out the protextia and pay a decent wage. Stop running the foreign service as if its a private members club. In my dealings with the Israeli consulate, I found them to be rude, inarticulate, lazy and plain dumb.
3. has it come to that!
yaw ,   Accra   (03.17.14)
4. the only winners are the Israel haters & propagandists!
tiki ,   belgium   (03.17.14)
5. Sabotage
Hammer   (03.17.14)
The Israel Foreign ministry including "Mig Mouth" Lieberman and Elkin has nothing to do with diplomacy in the sense of this word. This entity is only burning public money and create huge problem for expats, tourists and others who paying taxes to fund those useless bureaucrats damaging the country and people. To fire all of them at once will be a huge relief for the country. There are plenty of people that will be happy to take their jobs and huge benefits.
6. Fire them all!
Avi Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (03.17.14)
Foreign Ministry are the ultimate government free-loaders ('Ochle Chinum'). In NYC for example, we pay to send their kids to private schools which cost $30-50K per child/year. Free transportation, housing and rights as 'returning Israelis'. Lieberman should handle them like Regan handled the greedy Air Traffic Controllers in the early 80's. Plenty of capable people waiting in line to take their jobs.
7. What do these diplomats want anyway?
Cylinder Hat   (03.17.14)
Israeli diplomats are fighting for better work conditions that will enable them to represent their coutnry well without worrying how to make ends meet. We fight for Israel against BDS, in the international arena, we advance Israeli interests in a wide spectrum of fields - from high-tech and culture, to agriculture, medicine and academic affairs. We go to the four corners of the earth to save your irresponsible backpacker kids and bring them back home. And we do it all gladly - 24/7, while putting ourselves and our families at risk. Israel's foreign service is considered one of the most professional in the world. But we can't buy groceries with zionism. Every third cadet who had joined the service in the past decade has already resigned, due to economic reasons. We are fighting for the future of Israel's foreign service. You should fight with us, shoulder to shoulder.
8. Another failure of Libermans
Haim   (03.17.14)
9. Why fire when you can execute them?
Ofer B.   (03.17.14)
Diplomat wages in the US have not been adjusted in over a decade. Would you be willing to suffer a pay cut of 30% like they did? And if they don't strike, what else would you suggest they do? You have no idea what diplomatic work is, and what sacrifices it entails, so check your facts because you accuse anyone of being a freeloader.
10. It is about time to recognize the importance of MFA
DIplomat in Philly ,   Philadelphia   (03.17.14)
It is about time to recognize the importance of the Israeli Foreign Service (MFA). Israeli Diplomats are in the front line of Israeli International Politics. They face anti-Israel groups, threats, BDS initiative and do so with a sense of Zionism and love of Israel. But they deserve a proper compensation for all the hard work and sacrifice they make. We always portray Israel as the only Democracy in the Middle East. It is our democratic right to take labor sanctions and go on strike. I'm proud to be in a country that grants me that right so eventually I can do my job even better and defend Israel against those who undermine its legitimacy...
11. we all need the diplomatic Iron Dome
Riki ,   Jerusalem   (03.17.14)
Shame the politicians do nothing to direct the MoF boys to end this dispute. The Israeli diplomats are worth it.
12. Israel wake up
Roy ,   London   (03.17.14)
Hope the government WAKES UP and listen to these guys. They are essential to Israel's national security. For these Zionists to cry so loud, means something is terribly wrong with the way they are treated!!
13. when you press someone to the wall..
Israel   (03.17.14)
the Ministry of Finance is boycotting the Diplomats so now they are with there back to wall. they have no other choice and because of their conditions they see no future in the forign service. 30% of the yung diplomat generation had left this bad for Israel from any aspect one can think of - political, economical, cultural and more.
14. for all the "smart" talkbackers
tamar ,   jerusalem   (03.17.14)
1) learn the facts 2) I never saw you being so active against the physicians going on strike... 3) do you really think the diplomats risking their lives and the life of their family in far away countries( they don't all serve in the States or Europe) do not love Israel? Just a reminder: 22 years ago the embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires was bombed and many lost t heir lives. So think again....
15. Israel needs a strong diplomatic service
Miriam ,   Jerusalem   (03.17.14)
16. compromises
mea   (03.17.14)
Maybe they should get a rise, but in compromising, they should NOT be sending their children to very expensive private schools, have luxury quarters, etc. Also, they should be required to go through training on customer service as it is seen in the west--something probably just about every Israeli merchant and bureaucrat should be forced to do.
17. @14 thank you Tamar
(03.17.14)
18. @1 & 2 broken honor & love: 29 people died in Buenos Aires
Israel ,   Israel   (03.17.14)
they were all diplomats in the service of the State. Their families should receive honorable compensation instead of depending on charitable handouts. Me thinks that both of you need to learn more and talk less.
19. Give Israeli diplomats a break!
a diplomat from Mars   (03.17.14)
Israeli diplomats are working day and nights in the frontline of Israel's national security battle. admit to your selves that you have no idea what is like to represent Israel in Amman, Astana or Luanda.... checking under your car for bombs, having no electricity for hour or getting malaria 5 times a year - all the while taking care of your sons and daughters who got lost on a track in the jungle. We love our job! but it's becoming less and less feasible for young dipomats to keep on doing the job they love and so proud of. Imagine your spouse giving up on a career for you, imagine retiring with low pension when your spouse has no pension at all, imagine up-rooting your kids every few years so you can represent your country with pride! well - pride doesn'r pay the bills folks... we only want what is right and just - a fair pay, so we can continue doing the job we love.
20. Israel's a democracy
Rony ,   London   (03.17.14)
Diplomats work hard and risk their lives to represent the state which they love around the world. We always portray Israel as the only Democracy in the Middle East. It is our democratic right to take labor sanctions and go on strike. We're proud to be in a country that grants us that right so eventually we can do our job even better and defend Israel against those who undermine its legitimacy... On the other hand, it's hard to do this when we have to constantly worry about getting to the end of the month. We can't pay with Zionism at the supermarket, and prices here in the UK have gone up 34 percent since the last time we had a COL adjustment. This is why we are slowing down.
21. Last resort
Micki ,   Bogota, Colombia   (03.17.14)
It has been a year now that these workers have been trying to settle the matter in a diplomatic way. The labor dispute started with the Israeli diplomats trying to play “nice”, including a 7 months hiatus for a mediation process with the Finance Ministry that led nowhere. I am sure that none of these dedicated workers want to cause harm to any Israeli citizen or their beloved state of Israel, but enough is enough. The anger should be directed at the obtuse bureaucrats of the Ministry of Finance who do not recognize the importance of the foreign ministry to the national security of Israel.
22. fire any public workers who strike....
Susan ,   U.S.   (03.17.14)
....and...kill the unions because they are killing the state of Israel.
23. Al
dennis ,   nj usa   (03.17.14)
I agree with Al any contactt ive had with my locol consulate (renewing passport) has been fraught with acrimony, chutzpah, and downright rudeness. And then their English scholars (not!) dreided my Hebrew! in short, Ive labeled them Misrad HaChutz-pah. They ve been holding my wife's passport renewal for a few weeks due to work sanctions. I guess shell be travelling on her US Passport.. I think they need to close all consulates, or, do as Al suggests: fire everyone and start all over. My Israeli relatives in Boston tell me the same tales, so I know that the rudeness and laziness are pervasive throughout the entire US Consulate being, it seems.
24. Foreign Ministry strike
Fiona ,   Brighton England   (03.17.14)
Surely the staff and diplomats who work overseas are the frontline of public relations and the first representation many people see of Israel. No other country would expect its diplomats to work overseas without taking in to account the Cost of Living in that country. Living in the UK is much more expensive than living in a lot of other European countries and much more than living in North America. How can this be cost effective or make sense?? Let's not forget that diplomats overseas don't have an easy time and often live in fairly anti-Israel environments. Surely their salaries should at least be in line with that of comparable positions in the countries they're posted to?
25. Bibi please follow in the footsteps of Margret Thatcher
zionist forever   (03.17.14)
In the 70s the British unions were like an alternative government, constantly striking bringing the country to a standstill. When Thatcher came along she smashed the unions and the power they wielded. Israel's Histadrut has the same kind of power the British unions did, its a relic from Israel's Marxist past and its time for Bibi to follow in Thatchers footsteps and cut the Histadrut down to size. In a 21st century global economy Israel can no longer afford an all powerful union, they are an obstacle to investment Bibi has traditionally been a business friendly PM so if anybody can bring the Histadrut under control he can all thats needed is a will within the coalition.
26. 2
zionist forever   (03.17.14)
The whole lot of them are idiots especially at the Jewish Agency. When I was at a merkaz klita there was an American, only his grandparents were Jewish, he had never visited Israel in his life but he wanted to make alliya for the financial benefits granted to olin because he had just gone bankrupt and lost everything so he thought it might be easier to start over in Israel. I have a friend in the US her late father was Jewish, she had their marriage certificate but the idiots were not happy with her birth certificate, his marriage licence and death certificate. The man even came over from the US to fight in the war of independence but still they were not happy. The idiots at the JA even asked her to have DNA test done to prove she was his daughter despite the fact the man was dead. Both my parents are Jewish, I had their marriage ketuba, letter from the rabbi local synagogue and some other things but the JA were not happy that was proof enough of Jewishness and took over a year for my alliyah to go through.
27. 14
zionist forever   (03.17.14)
Diplomats don't do their job out of love for their country they do it because its a decent job. Sure there are risks involved at times but they are there because its a good job its not because of patriotism.
28. who comes & fetches u when u r in trouble?
(03.17.14)
oh yeah those rude lazy diplomats! Really all of you know-nothing blabbing twits get over yourselves.
29. most of the so called "Unions" in w-countries are longtime undermined by the MAFIA
look to NY   (03.18.14)
30. End unionization of all public sector employees
Mordechai   (03.18.14)
Simple outlaw any unionization of public sector employees. Give these employees a ultimatum do your job or immediate termination including paying their own flight back to Israel as their diplomatic passport and visa are now cancelled
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