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Israel recalls 'naked ambassador' Israel recalls 'naked ambassador'
(about 2 hours later)
Israel is replacing its ambassador in El Salvador after the envoy was found outside the embassy, drunk, wearing only bondage gear, officials said. Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found drunk and naked apart from bondage gear.
"Our ambassador has been recalled immediately," a foreign ministry official told AFP news agency. Reports say he was able to identify himself to police only after a rubber ball had been removed from his mouth.
San Salvador was Tzuriel Refael's first post as ambassador, after promotion in 2006 from a foreign ministry position. A foreign ministry official described Ambassador Tzuriel Refael's behaviour as an unprecedented embarrassment.
The official said that, although diplomats may have caused embarrassment in the past, this was "the last straw". The incident, which happened two weeks ago, has renewed calls for a radical overhaul of the way Israel appoints and promotes its diplomats.
"During the 60 years of the State of Israel, some of our diplomats have caused us embarrassment, as happens in every country," the official said. San Salvador was Mr Refael's first post as ambassador. He was promoted in 2006 from a technical position in the ministry which had involved several foreign postings.
"But an ambassador behaving indecently on a public thoroughfare, that has never happened before." We're talking about behaviour that is unbecoming of a diplomat Foreign ministry spokeswoman He was being recalled, although he had not broken any laws, foreign ministry spokeswoman Zehavit Ben-Hillel told reporters.
She confirmed that lurid reports of the incident in the Israeli press were accurate.
"We're talking about behaviour that is unbecoming of a diplomat," she said.
Israel has been rocked by a recent series of misconduct and corruption scandals, shaking public confidence in the political leadership.Israel has been rocked by a recent series of misconduct and corruption scandals, shaking public confidence in the political leadership.
Criticism Haaretz website reports that police found Mr Refael in the Israeli embassy compound where he had been found bound, gagged and naked apart from sado-masochistic sex accessories.
Haaretz website reports that police found Mr Refael in the Israeli embassy compound two weeks ago.
He was inebriated, his hands were tied and he was gagged with a rubber ball in his mouth.
In spite of his drunken state, the naked figure was reportedly able to identify himself by his full name and job title.
In 2006, Israel's diplomatic service was criticised by the public watchdog for its appointments system.In 2006, Israel's diplomatic service was criticised by the public watchdog for its appointments system.
The state comptroller's report singled out the foreign ministry appointments committee for its inadequate examination of candidates and lack of transparency.The state comptroller's report singled out the foreign ministry appointments committee for its inadequate examination of candidates and lack of transparency.