The first full-scale strike by Israel’s Foreign Ministry diplomatic staff has ended after weeks of embassy closures and diplomatic cancellations.

“Israel’s fighters abroad will return to serve on Israel’s global front lines. We are sorry for the needless hardships caused,” said the Foreign Ministry workers committee.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said he was pleased the strike had ended and described the document signed by the strikers as a “good agreement” .

He said the agreement would create a new “economic model” providing for the needs of Foreign Ministry workers.
The initial deal reached with the ministry will mean that diplomats' wages will be adjusted according to the cost of living in the countries they serve in.

Both parties have committed to conclude a more comprehensive agreement on salary conditions within a month.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin also welcomed the end to the strike, saying that he was happy wages would be “dramatically improved”.

“I regret the unnecessary strike in recent weeks, which damaged the diplomatic interests of the state of Israel and many citizens,” he said.

“From now on, we can all get together in a joint effort to rectify the strike’s damage and to put the Foreign Ministry back on track towards full operations.”