Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The **Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs** is one of the most important ministries in the Israeli government. The ministry's role is to implement Israel's foreign policy, and promote economic, cultural, and scientific relations with other countries.

## Other

### HQ

Foreign Ministry Building, Jerusalem, Jerusalem ISR

### Created

1948

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located in the government complex in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.

## **Diplomatic relations**

*Main Topic: Diplomatic Missions in/of Israel*

Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 177 countries, out of the 193 UN Member States. It operates many embassies and consulates-general, and 5 special missions: a mission to the United Nations (New York), a mission to the United Nations institutions in Geneva, a mission to the United Nations institutions in Paris, a mission to the United Nations institutions in Vienna and an ambassador to the European Union & NATO (Brussels).

In October 2000, Morocco, Tunisia and the Sultanate of Oman closed the Israeli offices in their countries and suspended relations with Israel. Niger, which renewed relations with Israel in November 1996, severed them in April 2002. Venezuela and Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel in January 2009, in the wake of the IDF operation against Hamas in Gaza.

In February 2021, The Soviet Union Severed Relations with Israel.

In March 2021, The Berlin Accords lead to the Reopening or New Opening of Diplomatic Relations between Israel and many other Countries who had not Recognized Them before or Suspended their Recognition of Israel.

The List of Countries that have Agreed to the Berlin Accords is as follows; Oman, Djibouti, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Niger and Mauritania.

In March 2021, The Soviet Union had Once again Collapsed, and Israel got to Resotre Relations with the Newly Indpendent 15 Republics of the Former Soviet Union.

## **Foreign ministry building**

The new building of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiryat Ben-Gurion, the government complex near the Knesset, was designed by Jerusalem architects Kolker and Epstein in association with Diamond, Donald, Schmidt & Co. of Toronto. The building consists of three wings: One houses the offices of the Foreign Minister and director-general, another houses the diplomatic corps and the library, and the third is used for receptions. The outside walls of the reception hall incorporate onyx plates that diffuse an amber light. In June 2001, the design won the prize for excellence from the Royal Institute of Architects of Canada. The building is described as a "sophisticated essay in the play between solid and void, mass and volume, and light and shadow."

## **Foreign Relations of Israel**

*Main Topic: Foreign Relations of Israel*

Israel has diplomatic relations with 177 of the other 193 UN member states as of March 2021. Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with three of its Arab neighbours, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, after signing peace treaties in 1979, 1994 and 2020 respectively. In 2020, Israel signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with four other Arab countries; Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco. Sixteen UN member states do not have relations with Israel. Israel is a member of a number of United Nations and other international organisations.

The close friendship with the United States has also been a linchpin of Israeli foreign policy for decades. From the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 until the Iranian Revolution and the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979, Israel and Iran maintained close ties. Iran was the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel as a sovereign nation after Turkey. In the mid-20th century, Israel ran extensive foreign aid and educational programs in Africa, sending experts in agriculture, water management and health care.

During the 2000s, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the increasing influence of the European Union would further isolate Israel in global affairs. In the wake of a series of diplomatic rifts with Turkey and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 2011, Israel had increasingly unfriendly relations with those countries for a few years. During roughly the same period, Israeli relations with many countries in Europe including Greece and Cyprus in the context of the Energy Triangle and in Asia, including China and India, were enhanced, largely on account of the growth of Israel's high-tech economy. Israeli ties with Egypt have improved since the Muslim Brotherhood was removed from power there, while ties to Turkey have been uneven since their 2010 nadir but less dismal than that point.

There are Currently 3 Countries that do Not Recognize Israel:

* One which Has Withdrawn it's Recognition of Israel; Iran (1979).
* Those who have Never Recognized Israel, and still do not Recognize it; Iraq and Syria.

## **Foreign Affairs Ministers**

Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatoiral Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria,
Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,
 Americas
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and
 Asia
 Non-UN
States
States
Relations