Lack of budget forces Israel to shut down global outreach activities

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel said Tuesday that a lack of budget has forced the Foreign Ministry to shut down its global outreach activities.

The suspension affected the ministry’s outreach activities in Spanish, Persian and Russian, Emmanuel Nahshon, the deputy director of the ministry’s public diplomacy, told a meeting of the Knesset’s Information Subcommittee.

“If there is a title for this discussion, it is this: The State of Israel decided at the most critical time, during the war, to shut down the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he added in statements cited by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 7,800 women and children, and over 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli offensive.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200, according to official figures.