Diplomacy is more than just saying the right thing at the right time, or refraining from saying the wrong thing at any time. It is an art, whose brushstrokes include establishing relationships, negotiating, persuading, and also resolving conflicting interests, not the least of which is how to reconcile one’s own personal and family needs with a life on the road. Four seasoned members of Israel’s diplomatic corps tell the story of how they cope.
Being diplomatic isn’t always easy especially under pressure. But working as a diplomat involves much more than keeping one’s cool or being able to deliver a slick scripted statement to the press.
As it unfolds on global turf life in the diplomatic corps entails the excitement and rigors of world travel but it also demands a lifetime of adjustments to new countries faces languages and customs often while moving a young and growing family every couple of years.
Israelmaintains diplomatic relations with approximately 150 nations in the world. For Israeli diplomats an assignment to a coveted diplomatic posting overseas is the culmination of three to five years of postgraduate education and training. Only about one percent of the diplomats in training survive the grueling and competitive process.
The State Public Service Commission Tender for diplomatic posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the principal mechanism for recruiting diplomats into the Israeli foreign service.
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