Israeli diplomats end strike that closed embassies

The dispute had threatened to delay a visit by Pope Francis to Israel planned for May - one of 25 trips by foreign officials affected by what first started as a work slowdown on March 5, when wage talks broke down.

The staff escalated the action to a full strike a few weeks later - the first by the diplomatic corps since the country was established in 1948 - closing all of Israel's 102 missions abroad and paralysing most diplomatic work with other countries and the United Nations.

"We reached an agreement that will strengthen the foreign service and help the country's envoys in the world to work for a long time in Israel's diplomatic corps," said Finance Ministry official Kobi Amsalem in a statement.

Diplomats will receive better financial incentives, an improved career advancement track and work under a new model for foreign assignments, the statement said.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)