Israeli embassies worldwide to close over tiff with Finance Ministry

No consular services will be provided and no one will be allowed to enter the embassies or consulates.

OCTOBER 30, 2019 12:38

Embassy of Israel in the United States, located at 3514 International Drive, NW in Washington, D.C. (photo credit: WIKIPEDIA/KROKODYL) — Embassy of Israel in the United States, located at 3514 International Drive, NW in Washington, D.C.

(photo credit: WIKIPEDIA/KROKODYL)

Israeli embassies around the world have been forced to close on Wednesday after a decision by the Finance Ministry to breach understandings that were agreed upon and signed by the ministry's Director General that employees would not be taxed on a financial allowance employees receive for being overseas.

The move undoes a decades-long protocol, according to the employees. The Finance Ministry said the employees should be taxed on the money their earn.

No consular services will be provided and no one will be allowed to enter the embassies or consulates.

The Israel Foreign Ministry tweeted, "Due to the Israeli Finance Min. @Israel_MOF 's breaching of longstanding agreements with @IsraelMFA employees, we are forced to close Israeli missions around the world AS OF TODAY, OCTOBER 30. No consular services will be provided, entry into the missions will not be allowed.

"The Finance Ministry's ongoing disruption of the vital diplomatic tools of the State of Israel have left MFA employees with no choice but to pursue sanctions," the tweet continued. "We hope that this crisis will be promptly resolved."

Due to the Israeli Finance Min. @Israel_MOF's breaching of longstanding agreements with @IsraelMFA employees, we are forced to close Israeli missions around the world AS OF TODAY, OCTOBER 30.No consular services will be provided, entry into the missions will not be allowed pic.twitter.com/f9Y47G8xEK
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 30, 2019

The Finance Ministry said on Wednesday that the Foreign Ministry employees are required to pay taxes like any other Israeli citizen.

The spokesperson continued to say, "We regret that in trying to improve their personal conditions, Foreign Ministry employees are choosing to avoid paying taxes and harming these essential services."

The office ended their response by saying, "Foreign Ministry employees are not above the law."