New Delhi: In an unprecedented development, Israel's foreign ministry has gone on an "indefinite strike", hitting its diplomatic processes across the world, including in India.

The unusual step was taken by the workers union governing the foreign ministry staff to protest the Israeli finance ministry's refusal to hike salaries for the past several years despite escalation in living costs in countries where diplomats are deputed, and not allowing their spouses to take up jobs in the country of deputation, a diplomatic official said here Monday.