Israel foreign ministry slowdown ends

The six-month partial strike of foreign ministry personnel over claims for better wages and conditions was temporarily lifted following a compromise deal reached at the Jerusalem District Labor Court Wednesday. The office will resume handling Israeli officials’ overseas visits and those of foreign envoys and officials to Israel as well as issuing diplomatic passports and rendering consular assistance to traveling Israelis. The judge harshly criticized the Finance Ministry for neglecting the dispute and ordered the two sides to agree on a mediator and report progress by Sept. 15.