Israeli Deputy envoy to US dismissed over media leak

The Deputy Chief of Mission of the Israeli Embassy in Washington Dan Arbell was recently relieved of his duties by Foreign Ministry Director General Rafael Barak, after Arbell admitted he had leaked sensitive information to the press, Israeli daily (Haaretz) reported. Haaretz quoted Barak as saying that the incident involved "giving sensitive confidential information obtained in the course of the employee''s job to an Israeli journalist. The contact with the journalist was unauthorized and violated ministry directives." Haaretz has learned that the leak in question occurred about two and a half years ago. This is the second time in Barak''s two years as director general that a senior diplomat was removed from his post over alleged contacts with the press. In the first incident, Alon Bar was dismissed as head of strategic affairs in the ministry.