Israeli police arrest diplomat

Israeli police have arrested an Israeli diplomat serving in the Netherlands on suspicion he issued passports in exchange for bribes.

Israel's consul in The Hague, Uriel Yitzhaki, was arrested yesterday as he arrived in Israel for a holiday.

Amichai Shai, head of the International Crimes Unit in the Israeli police, told Israel Army Radio that police were told last July of Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspicions that Yitzhaki issued passports "not in keeping with consular norms and Israeli law".

"This was the beginning of an undercover operation that lasted several months, that involved other police forces, including the Dutch one," Shai said.