In recent months, there has been much
public discussion in the Israeli media and in some academic institutions, on
its Foreign Office; its function (or malfunction) and its role in the
shaping of Israel’s national policy in general and its foreign policy in
particular.
M. Yegar, a veteran of 40 years in
Israel’s diplomatic service, addresses these issues in his above-mentioned
study.
It starts with a brief historical
background describing the development of the diplomatic profession and the
qualities which were traditionally considered desirable for a diplomat. A
discussion of the changes wrought upon the diplomatic practice since World
War II by the development of modern technologies follows. The role of
diplomats in all countries has undergone a most drastic change. Diplomats
today deal with a variety of issues that were not dealt with by former
generations. Most important – conducting negotiations, which was the major
occupation of diplomats in the past, is done today, directly and mostly, by
heads of states, prime ministers and foreign ministers (“Summit Diplomacy”),
and not by ambassadors, as was done previously.
The development of Israel’s diplomatic service is
described and analyzed in this theoretical background.
Subsequent chapters deal with the
specific issues and problems of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Israel’s diplomatic service: its achievements and faults; its stand in the
eyes of public opinion; its relationship (and difficulties) with the Prime
Minister’s Office and with the Ministry of Defense; deterioration in its own
practices caused by some inept Ministers and Directors-General in the area
of nominations and appointments and other spheres of activity; the serious
problem of leakages; the perennial unsolved issue of Hasbara; the
relationship with Jewish communities; the particular way of life that is a
part of the diplomatic practice; and some other problems typical of Israel’s
foreign service. The author makes recommendations for improvements and
reforms needed in the diplomatic service in order to bring it to the level
needed by a small and besieged country like Israel, which needs effective
diplomats and a good foreign office more than many other countries.
