United States Foreign Service officers stationed in Israel will be paid bonuses of $1,050 yearly for achieving a high degree of fluency in speaking and reading the Hebrew language, the State Department made known today.
If posted away from Israel, the American diplomats will receive $525 a year for maintaining skill in Hebrew. The aim is to promote study of languages generally unfamiliar to Americans in diplomatic work. Hebrew language ability was rated as more important than knowledge of Arabic. The Arabic language pays a smaller bonus because more American diplomatic personnel, including many who studied in the American University of Beirut, have knowledge of Arabic.
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