Netanyahu cancels Latin American tour due to gov’t strike at home

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has canceled his Latin American tour. He was unable to finish making preparations due to a strike by civil servants at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The strike has been going on for the last two weeks. High ranking officials of the Israeli government confirmed the news. The visit was to be historic since it would have been the first for an Israeli head of state in the region. Netanyahu was to start a five-day tour on April 6 to visit Mexico, Panama and Colombia. The office of the prime minister maintains that the trip has only been "postponed.” It is not yet known when it could be rescheduled.

Netanyahu faced many difficulties in the preparation of the tour because Israeli civil servants around the world have refused to help set up visits by politicians in any of the places where they are posted. No exception, not even for the prime minister. According to the newspaper Haaretz, Netanyahu's office tried to find alternatives to make up for the lack of organization by contacting other institutions and even the governments of host countries. He was unsuccessful. On other occasions, as happened during a visit to Poland and Austria a year ago when there was a similar strike, the leader of the conservative Likud Party relied on Mossad and the Ministry of Defense to carry out his agenda. In Latin America, however, practically 100 percent of Israeli personnel depend on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and there is no room for maneuvering.

The goal of the tour was to strengthen social, cultural and, above all, economic ties between Jerusalem and the land where a large number of Israeli residents came from. In a press release announcing his visit, Netanyahu said the trip was an opportunity for Israel to "grow" and "diversify." Secondly, he was looking for the support of friendly nations against the ever growing boycott against the interests of his country and in favor of the Palestinian cause. Only Mexico voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as an observer in the United Nations General Assembly in November 2012. Colombia abstained and Panama voted against the measure.

In February, Israel became an observer at the Pacific Alliance. The organization includes Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru and it accounts for 36 percent of Latin America's wealth. Peruvian President Ollanta Humala made an official visit to Israel in mid February.

The government strike has been a long time coming. There were similar movements a year ago but they were called off to open up a dialogue. After seven months of negotiations, government employees have mobilized again. They have shut down all consular services including visa applications. They demand an increase in salaries consistent with the cost of living and a remuneration for this late raise which they interpret as a "discriminatory fiscal policy" that does not take into account the costs of moving families abroad. They also ask for better pensions and a "decent" compensation for extra hours.

Canceling the trip has been the most severe consequence of the strike so far. The local press is speculating on the impact this strike may have on Pope Francis' upcoming visit to the Holy Land next May. Sources from The Custos of the Holy Land in Jerusalem said, however, that preparations for the pontiff's trip are coming along smoothly.

Translation: Dyane Jean François