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French consulate worker 'smuggled arms from Gaza' French consulate worker 'smuggled arms from Gaza'
(about 1 hour later)
A French national employed at the country's consulate in Jerusalem will appear in court on Monday charged with smuggling weapons from the Gaza Strip. A French citizen employed at the country's consulate in Jerusalem will appear in court on Monday charged with smuggling weapons to Palestinians.
Israel's Shin Bet security agency said the unnamed man, in his 20s, was arrested in February at the Erez border crossing. Israel's Shin Bet security agency said Romain Franck, 23, was arrested in February.
One of the suspect's jobs at the consulate was as a driver, involving regular trips to Gaza, reports say. The agency said he used a diplomatic car to evade detection as he smuggled arms from Gaza to the West Bank.
Israel has long tried to prevent arms reaching Palestinian militants. Mr Franck is accused of transferring 70 pistols and two assault rifles. He is one of nine suspects arrested so far.
Shin Bet said Mr Franck acted for his own financial gain.
The agency said he received the weapons from a Palestinian employed at the French Cultural Center in Gaza and transferred them to a third person in the West Bank in the course of five trips.
"This is a most serious incident, cynically exploiting the immunity and additional privileges extended to foreign representatives to Israel," the agency said in a statement.
A spokesman for the French embassy in Tel Aviv told AFP news agency: "We take this case very seriously and are in close contact with the Israeli authorities."A spokesman for the French embassy in Tel Aviv told AFP news agency: "We take this case very seriously and are in close contact with the Israeli authorities."
Shin Bet said the suspect had smuggled more than 70 pistols and two assault rifles from Gaza into the West Bank over a period of five trips. It said he used a consulate vehicle to elude detection. Israel has long tried to prevent arms reaching Palestinian militants.
Hamas has fought three conflicts with Israel and carried out thousands of rocket and bombings against it. Israel and Egypt maintain a blockade around the Gaza Strip to prevent weapons smuggling and attacks by Gaza-based militants. There are also tight security measures to stop arms getting into the hands of militant cells in the West Bank.
Israel and Egypt maintain a blockade on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling and attacks by militants.