France to launch probe after consulate driver charged with Gaza gun-running

France announced Monday it will investigate the case of an employee of its Jerusalem consulate who was indicted today for allegedly running guns from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.

In a statement, the French embassy said that French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is set to visit Israel next week, called for the investigation, noting that the chief inspector in the foreign ministry in Paris has been appointed to lead the probe.

According to an indictment filed in Beersheba District Court, Romain Franck, a 24-year-old driver for the consulate, was aware of the reduced security checks for vehicles with diplomatic license plates, which he allegedly used to illegally transport weapons out of Gaza and into the West Bank.

In a Hebrew-language statement, the embassy said that the investigation “will poll all of the information at our disposal that relates to this affair.

“This is also about coming to conclusions that will allow employees of the consulate general to continue with their important work under optimal conditions, despite the difficult circumstances,” the statement said.

It also said the suspect is “receiving full consular protection and visits from our embassy in Tel Aviv, including by the ambassador herself.

“We are in constant contact with out compatriot’s family and with Israeli authorities,” it says.

The embassy confirmed that “a member of the technical team” was arrested by Israel for “serious allegations of arms trafficking.” It also said that it was treating the matter very seriously, but could not comment on the case while it was being dealt with by the court.

In addition to Romain Franck, five residents of the West Bank and East Jerusalem were also charged. A total of nine suspects have been arrested in the case.

During a brief court appearance, Franck spoke through an interpreter to confirm his identity. Two French diplomats were at the court to monitor the proceedings.

He allegedly made five smuggling runs, bringing 70 pistols and two assault rifles to the West Bank from a Palestinian employee at the French Cultural Center in Gaza, Zuheir Abed Abdeen. A contact in the West Bank then sold the weapons to other arms dealers, investigators said.

Franck was already transporting various valuables in his car on behalf of Abdeen when in September 2017 the Palestinian propositioned him to join a gun-running ring run by Gaza resident Mahmad Jamil al-Haladi, the indictment said.

Franck later brought Mahmad Siad, an Israeli citizen employed at the French consulate in Jerusalem, into the operation and the two would allegedly travel together to deliver the weapons in the West Bank.

Prosecutors say Franck would usually take delivery of the guns from Abdeen and then place them in the trunk of his vehicle. At the border checks he would then falsely declare that all of the bags belonged to him or his passengers and that he was not carrying any weapons.

He was paid several thousand shekels for each delivery, depending on the number of guns he carried across the border.

The Shin Bet security agency said Franck was motivated by financial gain and that his superiors at the French consulate in Jerusalem were unaware of his actions. He was arrested February 15, but the case only became public on Sunday.

Among the others indicted Monday were East Jerusalem residents Moufak al-Ajluni and Mohamed Katout.

The Foreign Ministry earlier denounced the “very serious” arms smuggling charges against Franck but said the incident would not compromise diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“This is a very grave incident in which the immunity and privileges granted to foreign missions in Israel was cynically exploited for smuggling,” a Shin Bet official said, adding the weapons could have been used in attacks on civilians and security forces.

Echoing the Shin Bet, the Foreign Ministry said “this is a very serious incident which we are treating severely.”

It also thanked French authorities for cooperating with the investigation.

“The ties with France are excellent and the affair doesn’t adversely affect them,” the Foreign Ministry stressed.

A spokesman for France’s embassy in Israel said on Sunday that “we take this case very seriously and are in close contact with the Israeli authorities.”

Franck “has benefited and continues to enjoy the consular protection” provided to French nationals, he said.

According to the Le Monde daily, France will not block prosecution, but Franck may serve his sentence in France and not Israel.

Agencies contributed to this report.