Israeli envoy to Morocco blasts 'smear campaign' after recall

Israel's ambassador to Morocco, who was recalled last week amid an investigation that media linked to alleged sexual misconduct, has dismissed the accusations against him as "a smear campaign."

A letter from the lawyer representing ambassador David Govrin, obtained by AFP on Monday, said the diplomat had been targeted by "a despicable and self-interested party, seeking to harm the ambassador."

The letter charged that the security chief at Israel's mission to Rabat -- which opened after the countries restored full ties in 2020 -- was seeking "revenge" against Govrin, who was trying to fire the individual over alleged personal use of an embassy vehicle.

The security chief was waging "a false, degrading and abusive smear campaign" against Govrin, it said. 

"All the defamatory allegations of the security officer concerning the ambassador are fantasies," the letter continued. 

According to Israeli media, the envoy faces allegations of exploiting Moroccan women, sexual harassment and indecent exposure.

There are also claims of embezzlement and the apparent disappearance of a gift from the Moroccan monarch to celebrate the anniversary of Israel's creation in 1948.

The allegations triggered protests on Friday outside Morocco's parliament against the kingdom's normalization of ties with Israel.

Morocco had cut ties with Israel in 2000 following the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada, but in 2020 followed the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in formalizing ties with Israel.

Govrin, 59, served as Israel's envoy to Cairo before being appointed ambassador to Rabat last year.