The Chinese ambassador to Israel has been found dead in his Tel Aviv flat, Israeli media reports.
Du Wei, 58, had been appointed as China’s envoy to Israel in February, having previously been the country’s ambassador in Ukraine. He previously discussed undergoing 14 days of quarantine after his arrival, and received his diplomatic credentials at the end of March.
Police have now launched an investigation into his death. Mr Wei leaves behind a wife and son.
Earlier this year he shared his hopes of bringing China and Israel together and addressed anger directed at his nation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
He told newspaper Haaretz that China was a ‘law-abiding, responsible country’ which ‘should be trusted’. Mr Wei continued: ‘When the disease broke out across the world, there were those who said that China has to apologise.
They were looking for a scapegoat. ‘Throughout history, a certain group of people has been accused with spreading plagues more than once. It’s despicable and should be condemned. ‘The disease is the enemy of the entire mankind, and the world should fight it together.’