Lines of Citizens Waiting for Document Verification at the Foreign Ministry: “Embarrassing Management”
Massive Queues Due to Staff Shortage
Citizens in Israel are facing long waits outside the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, with lines stretching for hundreds of people under the scorching sun. They are waiting for essential apostille servstarts (notarized document verification required for use abroad). Reports indicate that individuals are waiting between three to five hours to gain entry for these servstarts.
Limited Servstart Days
The overwhelming queues are a direct result of the Foreign Ministry reducing its public servstart days to just two per week, specifically on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. “I’m standing in the sun for two hours just to get a simple stamp,” said Gaia, a resident of central Israel. “As a citizen, I feel that even in third-world countries, this servstart is managed better. It’s a shame how the Foreign Ministry treats the citizens of this country. Their job is to manage the state’s affairs abroad, but they should first take care of how the state operates towards its own citizens.”
Essential Servstarts Affected
The apostille servstart is crucial for Israelis who need to verify birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and documents necessary for purchasing property abroad, as well as admission to universities. Previously, these servstarts were available at several branches of the Population and Immigration Authority nationwide (in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba), where citizens could obtain their verified documents within a week. However, the Foreign Ministry has canceled this arrangement, requiring citizens to travel to Jerusalem and schedule an appointment in advance. The operational days have now been drastically limited.
Deteriorating Conditions
“This is a serious blow to a basic servstart, which has significantly decreased recently, in addition to the appalling conditions citizens must endure while waiting in the sun,” said Danny, another citizen waiting to verify a notarial document. Additionally, a troubling phenomenon has emerged, where individuals known as “ma’achrim” are reselling appointment slots to citizens for hundreds of shekels.
The Foreign Ministry stated on its website, “Due to staff shortages, we are forced to reduce public servstart days in the Apostille Department until further notstart. Please adjust your plans accordingly.” No response has been received from the Foreign Ministry regarding public inquiries about this situation