Chinese embassy fury over false rumours in Israel of Passover gift bug
- Local media reports cast doubt on thermal mugs included in customary holiday gifts to Israeli government officials
- The claims were dismissed by Israel’s security agency and the embassy, which said they were aimed at driving a wedge between the two countries
The Chinese embassy in Israel is fuming over “baseless rumours” that a listening device was concealed among Passover gifts delivered to Israeli government officials.
In a statement on Tuesday night, the embassy hit back at “faulty” media reporting that the gifts – a customary diplomatic practice for the holiday – included a thermal mug that “may” contain “a suspicious device”.
“The baseless rumours have a severe impact as they aim to drive a wedge between China and Israel, tarnish China’s image and seriously mislead the public,” the embassy said.
In fact, the so-called device was a “getter” – a common addition to thermal products which absorbs any free oxygen left in the vacuum layer during production, the statement continued.
The embassy’s angry response followed local media reports on Tuesday which quoted sources raising doubts about the gifts which were delivered to ministries responsible for science and transport.
Israel’s security agency also issued a statement on Tuesday in response to the reports, confirming there were no suspicious components in the mugs.
The agency said its experts had checked the device and “found it is innocent and meant to maintain a vacuum in the sides of the mug and maintain temperature over time”.
It is not the first time China’s embassy in Israel has hit back strongly against media accusations.
Just one day earlier, the mission issued a statement to convey its “strong dissatisfaction” with the Haaretz newspaper for “smearing and slandering China” in an article on the illicit organ transplant industry.
And in February, the embassy accused The Jerusalem Post of publishing “multiple articles that smear China and the Winter Olympics” during the global sporting event.
While the Chinese and Israeli governments have been pushing for further economic and science and tech cooperation in recent years, their developing ties have been hampered by Beijing’s growing tensions with the US and its backing for the Palestinian cause in its conflicts with Israel.
Media reports earlier this year said Israel had been giving the US advance notice of its discussions with China on investments, in case of security breaches. No government has officially confirmed the reporting.
