Allegations of sexual misconduct rock Israeli consulate in LA

The Foreign Ministry launched an extensive investigation into allegations that a US citizen working in the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles sexually harassed a fellow employee, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

The ministry sought to fire the US citizen in question, but did not go through with the decision after the man, who is HIV positive, claimed that terminating his employment at the consulate would be unlawful due to his medical condition, Ynet reported.

He subsequently threatened to sue Israeli authorities if he were to be fired, adding that he would claim in court that his termination was due to the fact he carried the virus.

The ministry has put the dismissal procedures on hold, with the intention of starting negotiations with the employee in order to discuss the terms of his resignation, the report said.

“Because of his lawsuit threat, the ministry is in an awkward position which we are now trying to solve so that the consulate can return to its normal activities as soon as possible,” an official at the ministry told Ynet.