Israel has called its chief diplomat in Morocco, David Govrin, who is under investigation that the Israeli press has linked to allegations of sexual harassment, according to a diplomatic source in Jerusalem.

The Israeli public network Kan reported on Monday that a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs traveled to Rabat to investigate allegations of sexual assault against the head of the Israeli mission in Morocco, David Govrin.

The Israeli press indicated that these allegations related to the exploitation of local women, sexual harassment and crimes against decency. The investigation also focuses on a number of alleged thefts, especially the disappearance of a gift sent by the King of Morocco on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, which was not handed over to the government, as usual.

A diplomatic source in Jerusalem told AFP that David Govrin was summoned from Morocco and is now in Israel and is also linked to the ongoing investigation.

The official, who requested anonymity, declined to specify the exact nature of the investigation, while Israeli and Moroccan authorities have not commented on the allegations.

In Morocco, the case sparked criticism on social media this week, with women’s rights organization Khemisa saying it was “deeply concerned by the authorities’ silence” and calling on the government to “open an urgent investigation.”

David Govrin, 59, was Ambassador to Egypt from 2016 to August 2019 and was appointed Chief of Mission for the Israeli Liaison Office in Rabat in early 2021 before he was formally appointed Israel’s Ambassador to Morocco.