Israeli embassies shut down worldwide: Low - Pay Anxiety

All Israeli embassies and consulates around the world have been closed since this morning as diplomats and military attaché are on strike over a long dispute with the Treasury on the costs paid for diplomatic envoy.

The move, co-ordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Labour Federation, came after the Treasury reportedly withdrew previous agreements and said it would force diplomatic envoys to return thousands of dollars they were given for expenses, reports SETimes of Israel.

The closure of embassies and consulates came into force at 0100 a.m. in Israel's time.

Israel's Ministry of Finance's decision to violate agreed and signed agreements by the Finance Ministry General Director on July 21st 2019 and to apply a unilateral procedure that changes protocol that has been in force for several decades has forced us to close the embassy, according to press reports published on the website of many missions.

consular services will not be offered and no one will be allowed to enter the embassy or consulate, the statement said.

The dispute was raised for the cost of Israeli diplomats and foreign-run defence ministry envoys, which must cover a wide range of costs from hosting events at the ambassador's residence to transportation expenses.

The finance ministry is trying to change the way costs are repaid, which would significantly affect diplomats and attachors, who have long complained about low wages.

The ministry also wants to impose a new system retroactively, meaning that diplomatic envoys must return thousands of dollars.