Israel recalls its ambassador to Morocco as it investigates allegations of sexual harassment

Sep. 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of Israel has recalled its ambassador to Morocco, David Govrin, after opening an investigation into accusations of alleged sexual harassment and financial irregularities at the Israeli diplomatic mission in Rabat, reopened last year after both countries establish diplomatic relations by the end of 2020.

According to information collected by the Israeli newspaper ‘The Times of Israel’, the decision has been adopted by the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alon Ushpiz, after a preliminary investigation carried out by an Israeli delegation that traveled to the country on Monday African to collect statements from the staff of the diplomatic legation.

The details of the investigation, revealed on Monday by the Kan public television network, were confirmed on Tuesday by Foreign Ministry sources cited by ‘The Times of Israel’ itself, after the ministry’s inspector general, Hagay Behar, moved to Rabat last week after the accusations against Govrin about the operation within the diplomatic legation.

Among the main accusations is that “a senior Israeli official” would have sexually exploited several Moroccan women, as well as complaints about sexual harassment. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is also investigating financial and administrative problems, including the disappearance of a gift sent by King Mohamed VI to Israel for Independence Day.

Likewise, information is being investigated about the possibility that a local businessman and leader of the Jewish community in Morocco identified as Sami Cohen, a friend of Govrin, had received several ministers — including the Foreign Minister and current Prime Minister, Yair Lapid — and arranged meetings between them and local officials despite having no official relationship with the Embassy.

The agreement between Israel and Morocco to normalize relations came after the Israeli government signed a similar pact with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, within the framework of the ‘Abraham Accords’, mediated by then US President Donald Trump. After that, Sudan joined them.