Being a Diplomat in Israel

[Pages:186]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 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Introduction .......................................................................... 3 Protocol ................................................................................... 7 Heads of Diplomatic Missions .................................... 15 Mission Personnel ............................................................ 25 Immunity ............................................................................. 51 Identity Cards .................................................................... 61 Airport Passes .................................................................... 71 Motor Vehicles .................................................................. 77 Visas ....................................................................................... 91 Taxation ............................................................................... 97 Honorary Consular Posts ............................................ 103 Police, Security, Emergency, Premises Protection ...................................................... 111 Premises ............................................................................. 115 Firearms ............................................................................. 119 Military Aircraft ? Overflights and Landings; Naval Vessels ? Visit - Diplomatic Clearance ...... 125 Prohibited and Limited Imports and Exports......................................................................... 129

1Introduction

Introduction 5

We 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 .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

2Protocol

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