Since its inception Israel has been called to be a nation set apart. Heeding that call can make things tricky on the modern diplomatic stage.
Every Israeli government over the past 72 years has strove to effectively communicate the Jewish state’s position to the rest of the world. Some have done so more successfully than others. The point is that foreign affairs is seen as crucial to Israel’s wellbeing and long-term survival.
And yet, Israel’s foreign affairs are a mess.
A State Comptroller report issued this week noted that 35 different government bodies are engaging in foreign affairs in one way or another without any centralized coordination. Furthermore, the budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not sufficient to cover even its basic needs, let alone execute a comprehensive diplomatic strategy.
Trying to please everyone
The disjointed approach to foreign affairs is reminiscent of Israel’s efforts to sell itself to the rest of the world outside of the diplomatic arena.
From promoting religious pilgrimage…
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