The man, who worked in cleaning and maintenance at the consulate in addition to
studying for an MBA degree at one of the city's universities, was described as
a "dedicated" employee, who, according to Army Radio, had turned to X-rated
film work to earn money to pay for the medical treatment of a gravely ill
family member.
His sideline was exposed after the New York Post tabloid connected him to the
Israeli consulate, tracked down his Web site, and contacted him with a
fictitious offer of film work. The man replied and accepted the offer. In an
apparent attempt to sniff out a bigger scandal, the paper asked him if he
supplied sex services, but the employee said he did not.
After the New York Post published its expose, consul officials called the
employee in for a meeting, which culminated in his resigning.
When asked why a consul employee couldn't earn money in porn in his or her free
time, a consulate official told Army Radio that involvement in the porn
industry would expose its employees to blackmail, creating a security risk.
Labor MK Colette Avital, former consul-general to New York, said Tuesday that
while the employee's story was "heartbreaking," the minute a consul worker took
part in blue movies it reflected on the consulate.
"It's a shame that there have been so many embarrassing incidents [in the
Foreign Ministry] lately," Avital said.
In March, Israel's ambassador to El Salvador was reportedly found naked, bound,
gagged and drunk in the yard of the ambassador's residence in San Salvador.
The ambassador, Tsuriel Raphael, was recalled, and Foreign Ministry spokesman
Yariv Ovadia said the facts of the incident needed to be clarified before the
ministry would determine what, if any, further disciplinary steps should be
taken.
