"Only a few years from now will they understand the ramifications of what has happened since the start of 2019 and until the order was given last night," the diplomat said.

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"The new situation means that, for example, that 20 anti-Israeli resolutions will pass in the UN General Assembly at the end of the month because diplomats who were supposed to help fight them are grounded in Israel. There is no one to explain why Israel opposes a meeting between [US] President Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

"The battle against BDS will come to a halt. These are only some of the immediate harm that will be caused by the new situation," the official said.

In addition, one of the senior officials at an unspecified Israeli embassy told Israel Hayom that it has been months since embassy employees had received regular paychecks.

On Sunday, the accountant general of the Foreign Ministry, Yossi Strauss, announced that all diplomatic activity was to stop immediately in light of the ministry's deficit of several hundred million shekels.

In recent months, ministry directors have been in talks with the Finance Ministry in an attempt to find a solution to the budget crisis, but the talks blew up on Sunday.

In a message sent to all Israeli embassies, consulates, and diplomatic offices, Strauss ordered a stop to any new expenditures. He also ordered the Foreign Ministry to stop courses it offers; stop funding work trips for staff at every level; and not to invite foreign representatives and/or delegations to visit Israel or attend conferences in Israel.

The decision means that the Foreign Ministry's diplomatic work will come to a near-total halt, as will the services it provides for Israelis abroad, such as replacing passports.

The orders from the accountant general left employees of the Foreign Ministry reeling. Hanan Gord, a member of the Union of Diplomatic Employees, told Israel Hayom that the move "put the final nail in the coffin that for 70 years has been called the 'Foreign Ministry.' For the first time in the history of Israel, the government has stopped the work of a key ministry."

A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the reports.

"This is an unprecedented situation in which Finance Ministry functionaries shut down a government ministry without any discussion. The heavy deficit, which we warned about, is the result of underfunding by the Budget Department [of the Finance Ministry]. The foreign minister is working to solve the crisis," the spokesman said.

The post 'Foreign Ministry shutdown harmful to Israel's security' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

When Katz began his tenure as foreign minister in February 2019, he learned there were countries that agree in principle to open their embassies in Jerusalem but seek reciprocal measures from Israel in exchange. For example, Honduras and El Salvador have agreed to open embassies in Jerusalem but want Israel to open full diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in return – a move which hasn't been forthcoming on Israel's part.

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Other countries have requested developmental and economic aid from Israel, while also hoping such a move would open doors in the United Sates and have even asked Israel to help pay for the relocation to Jerusalem. In these cases, too, there has been little to no Israeli follow-up, which has stalled progress on the matter.

In his upcoming presentation to the government, Katz will propose giving countries willing to move their embassies to Jerusalem an aid package worth NIS 50 million (around $14.2 million). Because Israel is preparing for another general election, scheduled for September 17, Katz's proposal pertains to the 2020 national budget. However, according to his proposal, he would have the authority to divert resources from the current budget to facilitate such an embassy move.

The funds would be earmarked to help finance the relocation or launch of a new embassy, or transfer the ambassador's residence to Jerusalem; locate and designate suitable real estate; help the Jerusalem Municipality, local authorities and relevant bodies make the proper accommodations; and provide cooperation and other aid to the relevant country in accordance with the circumstances. A steering committee headed by Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem will decide how the aid packages are allocated among the countries.

'The most important objective'

Ever since US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in May 2018, only Guatemala has joined the Americans in relocating their embassy to the city. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the embassy issue in various diplomatic gatherings with foreign leaders, as has Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely on visits to numerous European countries.

Speaking to Israel Hayom Katz said, "There is nothing more expressive of our return to Zion and the success of Zionism than strengthening the sovereignty of Israel and the Jewish people in Jerusalem. Bolstering Jerusalem's status in the world is the most important objective I've set for myself as foreign minister. Jerusalem was and always will be the beating heart of the Jewish nation."

The post Exclusive: Israel's national plan to relocate foreign embassies to J'lem appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.