Officials and staff members of the Consulate General of Israel and the Israel Mission to the United Nations are more energetic and jovial these days and appear more relaxed at the end of their day’s work. All agree that the decision to move to new offices in a midtown location at 800 Second Avenue was a wise move. David Rivlin, Consul General, said that the shift to the new location had numerous advantages politically and economically.
It is only one block away from the UN compared to the 32-block distance at its previous location on East 70th Street. The new location also makes it more accessible to the public and establishes better communication with those who require the services of the Consulate or Mission. According to Yoel Arnon, the administrator of the Consulate and Mission, the new location will save the Israeli government $25,000-$40,000 a year.
The savings, he explained, will come from not having to worry about the maintenance of the leaky, outdated building the government previously occupied for 22 years; being a tenant instead of an owner; and not having to pay the cost of constant transportation between the UN and the previous Consulate-Mission complex. Rivlin noted, too, that the previous building was not designed as an office and a great deal of space could not, therefore, be utilized. The new complex was designed as an office and space utilization is greater. Arnon said no decision has been made on whether to sell the previous buildings used by the Consulate-Mission. Israel has put $600,000-$700,000 into them over the years, he said, and more investments would be required for repairs.
Arnon advanced two possibilities: the buildings could be retained for apartments or for a school for children of Israeli officials here, or they could be sold. Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir favors selling the building to aid the Ministry’s coffers, Arnon said, but a decision has not been made and the building have not been offered for sale despite inquiries from numerous prospective buyers. For the Israelis, happiness is being in the new location. Mazel tov.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
