Israeli ambassador to Morocco recalled on charges, including sexual ones

Israeli diplomat David Govrin (right), with Yair Lapid in Rabat, Morocco, in February 2021. AFP - -

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1 min

An embarrassing affair for the brand new diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel.

The Israeli ambassador in Rabat has been recalled to his country in recent days, accused of sexual abuse in particular.

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It is the Israeli press that reveals what David Govrin is suspected of: exploitation of Moroccan women, sexual harassment and indecent assault.

Added to this is the possible disappearance of a gift from the King of Morocco, which would never have been received by its recipient, in this case the Israeli government.

In recent days, a delegation from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs traveled to Rabat to hear embassy employees there.

And in the process, the ambassador was recalled at the end of last week.

Back in Israel, David Govrin defends himself.

The diplomat denounces a " 

smear campaign 

", against the backdrop of a personal conflict with the head of security at the Israeli embassy in Morocco. 

The case risks poisoning the nascent diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Morocco, like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, is one of the Arab countries that recently normalized relations with Israel. 

Last week in Rabat, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in front of the Moroccan Parliament to denounce this diplomatic rapprochement, but also the acts of which the ambassador is accused.

►Read again: Defence: Morocco and Israel consolidate their military alliance

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