Israeli embassy to close

The Israeli Embassy in Wellington will close later this year, it was confirmed today.

"It will unfortunately be closing some time before the end of this year. That is the only official comment we will be making," an embassy spokeswoman told NZPA today.

The Israeli Ha'aertz newspaper has reported Foreign Minister Shimon Peres had authorised an initial closure list which included eight offices: embassies in Panama, Harare, Wellington and Minsk (Belarus), and consulates in Sydney, Montreal, Rio De Janeiro and Marseilles.

Israel will in future be represented in New Zealand from its embassy in Australia.

- NZPA