Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel) facts for kids
| משרד החוץ وزارة الخارجية الإسرائيلية |
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Seal of the MFA
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1948 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Israel |
| Headquarters | Foreign Ministry Building, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 31°46′57″N 35°12′04″E / 31.78250°N 35.20111°E |
| Annual budget | 1.59 billion New Shekel |
| Minister responsible |
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The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hebrew: מִשְׂרַד הַחוּץ; Arabic: وزارة الخارجية الإسرائيلية) is a very important part of the Israeli government. It's like Israel's main team for talking to other countries around the world. Their job is to help Israel have good relationships with other nations. They also work to improve how Israel connects with others in areas like business, culture, and science.
The Ministry's main office is in Jerusalem, in a special area called Givat Ram where many government buildings are. The person in charge right now is Israel Katz.
Contents
A Look Back: How the Ministry Started
In 1948, when Israel was just starting as a country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began its work. Its first office was in a village called Sarona, near Tel Aviv. Moshe Sharett was the first person in charge of foreign relations. He worked with Walter Eytan, who was the Director General.
In 2013, the people who work at the Ministry had a long disagreement about their pay and working conditions. This was the longest such dispute in the Ministry's history. They eventually reached an agreement to make things better. A new group, the Israeli Association for Diplomacy, was created to help these workers.
Later, in 2014, a politician named Ronen Hoffman helped start a special group in the Israeli parliament (the Knesset). This group's goal was to make Israel's foreign service stronger. Hoffman said that if the foreign service isn't seen as important as the army, it can hurt the country's safety.
Israel's Friends Around the World
Israel has official relationships with 159 countries. This means they have diplomats and representatives who work together. To do this, Israel has many offices in other countries. These include 77 embassies, which are like main offices in a country's capital. They also have 19 consulates-general and 5 special missions.
These special missions include offices at the United Nations in New York, Geneva, and Paris. There's also a mission in Vienna and an ambassador to the European Union in Brussels.
Sometimes, relationships between countries change. For example, in October 2000, Morocco, Tunisia, and Oman closed their Israeli offices. Niger also ended its relations in April 2002. In January 2009, Venezuela and Bolivia stopped their diplomatic ties with Israel. These changes often happen because of political events.
The Ministry's Home: A Special Building
The main building for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Kiryat HaMemshala, which is a government area near the Knesset (Israel's parliament). This building was designed by architects from Jerusalem and Toronto.
The building has three main parts. One part holds the offices for the Foreign Minister and the Director-General. Another part is for the diplomats and the library. The third part is used for special events and meetings. The walls of the reception hall are made of special stone that lets in a warm, amber light. In 2001, the building's design won an award for its excellent look. People describe it as a clever mix of solid and open spaces, playing with light and shadows.
Who Leads the Ministry?
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel is the main political leader of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This job is one of the most important in the Israeli cabinet. It's usually seen as the third most important role, after the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister. The current Foreign Minister is Israel Katz.
See also
- Foreign relations of Israel
