The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to layoff around 1,200 staff, who are assigned to perform security tasks for Israeli airlines abroad, at the end of 2018, thus threatening their operations, Globes has reported.

"The relevant parties must prepare in advance for this situation while finding other alternatives for the employment of workers abroad," Ministry of Foreign Affairs director general Yuval Rotem said in a letter to the Acting National Security Advisor and Head of the National Security Council, Eytan Ben-David.

The manpower deficit could affect El Al Israel Airlines (including its leisure unit Sun d'Or International Airlines), Israir, and Arkia Israeli Airlines. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, the carriers currently operate 379, 58, and 33 weekly international flights, respectively.

"Without these workers, the aviation security system cannot be sustained. Any solution will require deep thought and complicated and extensive arrangements that will vary from one country to another. My understanding is that other government ministries have so far refused to take on the employment of this personnel," El Al Chairman Eli Defes has said.

Defes has pointed out that alternative measures, such as employing private security contractors, would require time to prepare and may compromise the safety of the Israeli airlines. Currently, security staff posted to the airlines enjoy consular privileges and are not subject to ordinary visa regimes, which also facilitates their work abroad.

The other two affected airlines have also demanded a quick solution to the crisis, without which they cannot with certainty plan flights for the Winter 2018/19 season. In addition, Arkia has called for a reform of the system so that El Al is no longer tasked with providing security to all carriers, including its competitors.

Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Benjamin Netanyahu has already been briefed on the crisis.

The government is trying to reduce its financial burden due to the high costs associated with the employment of the security staff.

The employees are nearly fully paid for by the Ministry of Finance and carry out the instructions given by the Israel Security Agency, although they are formally employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assigned to the security division of El Al. The flag carrier, in turn, provides security services also to all other Israeli carriers.

In 2017, the government spent ILS825 million shekels (USD227 million) to finance the security personnel assigned to the airlines. Both the cost and the number of staff employed have grown in recent years due to the surge in air traffic to Israel.

The dispute mirrors a similar situation which occurred in January 2018 and threatened the summer international operations by Israeli airlines. Eventually, the crisis was solved as the government has temporarily agreed to fund 200 more job posts but only through the end of 2018.

The change would not affect foreign carriers flying to Israel as they are not subject to the same stringent security procedures. Israeli airlines would also be able to avoid the need to have additional security staff by wet-leasing aircraft and operating them under foreign airlines' codes.