Being a Diplomat in Israel - Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

186 Pages·2008·3.36 MB·English

Being a Diplomat
in Israel
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Protocol Division
Jerusalem, October 2008
Being a Diplomat
in Israel
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Protocol Division
Jerusalem, November 2008
Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction .......................................................................... 3
Chapter 2
Protocol ................................................................................... 7
Chapter 3
Heads of Diplomatic Missions .................................... 15
Chapter 4
Mission Personnel ............................................................ 25
Chapter 5
Immunity ............................................................................. 51
Chapter 6
Identity Cards .................................................................... 61
Chapter 7
Airport Passes .................................................................... 71
Chapter 8
Motor Vehicles .................................................................. 77
Chapter 9
Visas ....................................................................................... 91
Chapter 10
Taxation ............................................................................... 97
Chapter 11
Honorary Consular Posts ............................................ 103
Chapter 12
Police, Security, Emergency,
Premises Protection ...................................................... 111
Chapter 13
Premises ............................................................................. 115
Chapter 14
Firearms ............................................................................. 119
Chapter 15
Military Aircraft – Overflights and Landings;
Naval Vessels – Visit - Diplomatic Clearance ...... 125
Chapter 16
Prohibited and Limited Imports
and Exports.........................................................................129
1
Introduction

Introduction 5
W
e live in a rapidly changing world. This also affects the daily diplomatic routine. But conversely,
the rules and regulations which were formulated and accepted several decades ago are still valid and
in force. I am referring, of course, to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 (hereafter
VCDR), the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 (hereafter VCCR), and the Convention
on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on
13 February 1946.
This guide is based on those internationally accepted rules and local practice. The policy and routine
of the Israeli Protocol are intended to simplify the lives of the diplomatic community serving in Israel
within the rules, but without undue rigidness and formality.
The guide tries to provide an overall view of the procedures and provisions in force. Hopefully, it will
serve as a tool of reference in dealing with daily routine problems, as well as facilitating the stay of
the diplomatic, consular, and international organizations community in Israel, by answering the most
frequently asked questions, and enabling its members to serve their countries and organizations.
However, this guide, as a whole, is not a legal document and, therefore, it does not bind the
Government of Israel nor any of its offices, nor Israel’s legal system.
This is the first edition of this kind of guide. The author and the Protocol Department will be glad
to receive comments and remarks from the members of the diplomatic community in anticipation of
future editions. The various rules and stipulations are subject to change over time, and it is advisable
that, for revisions and updates, the members of the diplomatic community consult the Israel Foreign
Ministry website www.mfa.gov.il where the guide is posted.
This guide introduces changes in certain procedures and routines (such as the new A-1 form) which
will enter into effect with its publication. Therefore, we highly recommend that the persons dealing
with the Protocol Department in particular read it thoroughly and act accordingly. The Department
shall be glad to answer any questions in case of necessity.
As well, we wish to clarify the term “sponsor” used in several chapters of the guide. The term applies
to the person who is accredited as a “staff member,” but not to the members of his/her family.
I wish to express the Foreign Ministry’s sincere gratitude and appreciation to the author of this
volume for the task he has performed in compiling the material under our guidance; beside the
formal rules, he has provided varied and practical advice based upon his longstanding experience.
The author, retired Ambassador, Professor, and Dr. h.c. Mordechai D. Palzur, is a veteran of the
Israeli Foreign Service since 1950. He studied Law, International Relations, and Political Science. He
served as Ambassador in seven countries and as Chief of Protocol between 1990-1994. We thank
him from the bottom of our hearts!
I also wish to thank Mr. Tsuriel Raphael from the Language Services Department for all his assistance
in editing and producing this guide, as well as the entire team in the Protocol Department for
their input. Special thanks also to the Consular Affairs Bureau and Legal Affairs Division for their
comments.
Ambassador Yitzhak Eldan
Chief of Protocol

2
Protocol
9
9
Protocol
2.1 The Chief of Protocol heads the Protocol and Official Guests Bureau which is subdivided
into four departments:
1 – The Protocol Department;
2 – The Official Guests Department;
3 – The Management and Budget Department;
4 – The Language Services Department.
2.1.1 The functions and responsibilities of the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs have been defined by a Decree of the Government of Israel, dated
16 January 1983, as follows:
A. The Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also the Chief of Protocol
of the State of Israel in regard to the protocol and ceremonial aspects of its foreign
relations.
B. The Chief of Protocol will be appointed from the staff of permanent officials who
are eligible to serve in the position of Ambassador. He is subordinated to the
Foreign Minister, and will be guided by the Ministerial Committee on Emblems
and Ceremonies in regard to State ceremonies resulting from the decisions of the
Government and the Ministerial Committee on Emblems and Ceremonies.
C. The functions of the Chief of Protocol:
1) He/She is responsible for the organization and coordination of officialceremonies
relating to dignitaries from foreign countries, such as Heads of State, Prime
Ministers, Foreign and other Ministers (in accordance with the circumstances).
The above applies both to visits in Israel and to official visits abroad by the
President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
2 He/She provides advice to Government Ministries and other governmental
institutions in regard to ceremonial matters.
3) In carrying out these functions, the Chief of Protocol will act in coordination with
the relevant offices and Ministries. The Chief of Protocol will be assisted by the
“Permanent Committee” which he or she heads, regarding the implementation
and operation of events and ceremonies, based upon governmental procedures,
in this regard.
4) In the diplomatic realm, the Chief of Protocol is responsible for the direct ties
with the Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and their staff as well as
the special Missions of the International Organizations. The Chief of Protocol
attends to their welfare in Israel, and establishes coordination on matters relating
to the functions of the diplomatic staff, their welfare, their special privileges and
immunities – on a basis of reciprocity. He/She welcomes incoming Ambassadors,
presents them with briefings, organizes the ceremony for the presentation of
their Credentials to the President of Israel and receives Ambassadors on the
termination of their tour of duty in Israel.
5) The Chief of Protocol is responsible for the publication of the Diplomatic List
and the issuing of identity cards for the diplomatic, consular, and administrative
staff of the foreign Missions and the International Organizations.
6) The Chief of Protocol deals with every matter relating to the Diplomatic Corps,
even if it is not specified in this decision.
2.1.2 Moreover, the Chief of Protocol heads the internal Foreign Ministry committee,
which approves the acceptance of foreign honorary consular officersandtheappointment
of Israeli honorary consular officers in foreign countries.