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Head of Israel's Mission in Morocco Accused of Human Trafficking, Corruption

A photo posted by David Govrin on his Twitter page.
A photo posted by David Govrin on his Twitter page.
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Head of Israel's Mission in Morocco Accused of Human Trafficking, Corruption

A photo posted by David Govrin on his Twitter page.
A photo posted by David Govrin on his Twitter page.

Israel summoned its ambassador to Morocco, David Govrin, over allegations of sexual harassment and corruption, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.

Last week, the Israeli Foreign Ministry launched an investigation into severe misconduct suspicions within the Israeli diplomatic mission to Morocco, including human trafficking, mysterious work relations in the office, financial and administrative problems, and sexual allegations.

The investigation focused on the behavior of Govrin, the former ambassador to Egypt.

A delegation of senior officials, including the Office's Inspector General Hagay Behar, was rushed to the office in Morocco last week.

He investigated allegations "about the sexual exploitation of local women" and complaints of sexual harassment within the mission.

The Foreign Ministry is also investigating the involvement of a local businessman, Sami Cohen, in hosting official events for senior Israeli officials.

Cohen held a reception for Prime Minister Yair Lapid, ministers Ayelet Shaked and Gideon Saar and initiated meetings between them and local officials, even though he was not officially affiliated with the mission.

The team was also investigating a reported feud between Govrin and the mission's security officer.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Makan) warned that if these allegations were proven true, they might lead to a serious diplomatic incident between Israel and Morocco.

Govrin returned to Morocco after interrogation at the Foreign Ministry in Tel Aviv. He was questioned about the abuse of influence within the mission and the financial management of the Liaison Office.

Investigations revealed that many employees used their diplomatic advantages to obtain financial benefits and arranged deals between Israeli and Moroccan companies outside established channels.

The mission's office witnessed a series of resignations and dismissals due to "financial scandals" and "abuse of office" among Israeli employees seeking donations from the Jewish community and funds from the authorities in Morocco.

Israeli media reported that Govrin's mission as head of the Liaison Office in Rabat is "over."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry is expected to release the investigation results in the coming days, after coming under pressure from the Israeli press and public.

Morocco became the third Arab country to normalize relations with Israel, under agreements brokered by the United States in 2020.

Govrin, 58, is a high-ranking official and diplomat. He has worked in the Foreign Ministry since 1989, speaks fluent Arabic, and served as Israel's ambassador to Egypt from 2016 until 2020.

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Arab World

Deadly Floods in War-torn Sudan Displace Thousands

Sudanese authorities have made an "urgent call" to the international community for help - AFP
Sudanese authorities have made an "urgent call" to the international community for help - AFP
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Deadly Floods in War-torn Sudan Displace Thousands

Sudanese authorities have made an "urgent call" to the international community for help - AFP
Sudanese authorities have made an "urgent call" to the international community for help - AFP

Amna Hussein sat grieving in a disaster relief tent in eastern Sudan, where she fled with her children after deadly floods displaced thousands in a country already reeling from war.

"My father died in the floods," Hussein said in Kassala, a state on the border with Eritrea, AFP reported.

Sudan has experienced an intense rainy season since last month, with intermittent torrential flooding mainly in the country's north and east.

Authorities have not released an updated death toll, but 34 people have died in the northern town of Abu Hamad alone, according to the Sudanese Red Crescent.

"All our houses have collapsed. Mine has been totally destroyed. We're sitting in the street with nowhere to go," flood victim Umm Ayman Zakarya Adam told AFP in Abu Hamad.

Authorities in Kassala on Friday issued an "urgent call" to the international community, asking for "immediate assistance to rescue victims" of the flooding.

They said that in Kassala "thousands of people have been affected by the floods which have destroyed many homes."

Every year between May and October peak flow on the Nile is accompanied by torrential rains, destroying homes, wrecking infrastructure and claiming lives, both directly and through water-borne diseases.

The impact is expected to be worse this year after nearly 16 months of fighting that has displaced millions of people into flood zones.

In Wadi Halfa, in the north of the country, near the Egyptian border, "around 3,000 homes and health facilities were severely damaged," according to local authorities.

"I'm speaking to you from a hilltop where my family and dozens of others took shelter last night after we were completely surrounded by rising waters," said Mohammed Othman, a resident of Wadi Halfa, speaking to AFP by phone.

More than 73,000 Sudanese have been affected by the floods, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Among those, over 21,000 have been displaced and 14,300 had their homes destroyed.

In Kassala, despite health authorities spraying insecticide at the displacement camps, an AFP journalist reported that swarms of flies were making living conditions even more difficult for the displaced.

A doctor in Kassala, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported a rise in cases of diarrhoea, particularly among children.

Medical worker have said this may indicate a rise in cholera, which health authorities have struggled to control with the war decimating Sudan's healthcare system.

Since April of last year, a war between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people both within and outside of Sudan.

Both sides are accused of war crimes, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and blocking of aid, worsening the country's already stark humanitarian crisis.

According to the UN, more than 260,000 people have been displaced to Kassala state by the war.

Omar Babiker and his family took refuge in Kassala after the RSF arrived on their doorstep in Sudan's central Al-Jazira state.

The floods forced Babiker to move again to a camp for the displaced, where he is still vulnerable to the rains.

"The floods caught up with us when the waters surrounded our tents," he told AFP.

In Aroma, a town 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the east of Kassala, floods submerged entire houses, forcing residents to take refuge on a roadside.

Humanitarian organizations have warned that the rainy season could isolate entire regions, making rescue efforts even more difficult.

"Some have been displaced three or four times since the start of the conflict. They have lost their belongings, including food rations," said Olga Sarrado, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

They "are facing significant challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases," she added.

To the west of Kassala, white tents stretch out over five square kilometres (two square miles).

"These tents don't protect us from the rain," said Fathiya Mohammed, a displaced mother trying to light a fire despite the ever-present dampness.

Like others in her situation, Mohammed counts on a single daily meal distributed by a kitchen staffed by volunteers.