The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his house on Sunday, according to media reports. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the incident. The police are investigating the circumstances of his death.
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The 58-year-old Du Wei is said to have been found in his residence in Herzlija near Tel Aviv. The diplomat came to Israel in mid-February to take up his post, it is said. After his arrival, he initially complied with a two-week home quarantine because of the corona crisis.
The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” writes, Du Wei was found dead in his bed. There were no signs of violence on his body, the paper said. The Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom is suspected of having heart failure.
Married father of a son
The Chinese embassy in Israel, located in Tel Aviv, countered criticism from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last Friday. Pompeo had accused China of withholding information about the outbreak of the corona virus during a visit to Israel. The message Pompeo’s comments were then described as “absurd”. China never covered up the outbreak, was called in the official statement, in which the United States was described as the “current epicenter of the pandemic”.
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In April, Du Wei had already given several interviews in his new role, calling China “responsible, law-abiding and trustworthy country“In conversation with the newspaper” Makor Rishon “, he described his goals for ambassadorial activity in two words,” friendship “and” cooperation “.
Before taking up his post in Israel, Du Wei had been China’s ambassador to Ukraine. He leaves behind a wife and son.
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