JERUSALEM (JTA) — Workers at Israel’s Embassy in Washington have been instructed not to assist the prime minister during his visit for the opening of direct peace talks.
The Foreign Ministry’s workers’ committee sent a telegram with instructions to the embassy on Tuesday, Haaretz reported. The instructions are part of labor sanctions by Israel’s Foreign Ministry union, which it imposed as part of a fight for increased salaries. Under the directions, the workers will not assist in the early September visit’s administrative aspects, including hotel reservations, transportation, press briefings and coordination with U.S. officials, according to Haaretz.
Israel’s ambassador to the Untied States, Michael Oren, reportedly will not cooperate with the directive, a senior ministry source told Haaretz.
Netanyahu’s previous visit to Washington was also disrupted by the sanctions; defense ministry delegation members handled the logistics. The union has also instructed workers to stop handling correspondence with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which is expected to affect Israeli companies.
