WORK PERMITS FOR CONSULATE GENERAL JERUSALEM EFMS

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001065 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/EX, NEA/IPA, AND NEA FRONT OFFICE ALSO FOR M/FLO, L/DL, L/AN, AND S/CPR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT APER PREL IS SUBJECT: WORK PERMITS FOR CONSULATE GENERAL JERUSALEM EFMS REFS: A) Jerusalem 452; B) State 59964 ¶1. (U) Ref A described the situation at post since late 2008, when the GOI informed Embassy Tel Aviv that EFMs of official Americans assigned to ConGen Jerusalem are not eligible for Israeli work permits. This GOI decision has had a serious, negative impact on post's morale and recruiting efforts. In Ref A, Post requested the Department's assistance in rectifying this situation. ¶2. (SBU) Post would like to express its appreciation for work done by NEA, L, FLO, and Protocol in response to Ref A, leading to a June 3 meeting in Washington with representatives of the Israeli Embassy (Ref B). Post understands that Israeli Embassy participants acknowledged the Department's request for a practical working arrangement on work permits for ConGen Jerusalem EFMs, but declined to comment on how the GOI might respond. ¶3. (SBU) As noted in Ref B, Department participants in the June 3 meeting requested a response from the GOI as soon as possible. With three weeks having passed since the June 3 meeting without a response, post recommends that the Department begin taking steps to impose reciprocity on Israeli diplomats posted at Israeli consulates in the United States. ¶4. (U) Post again thanks the Department for its support and consideration on this matter. WALLES