Israel honours dead Chinese envoy ahead of repatriation

Chinese and Israeli officials pay their respect in front of the flag-draped coffin of Chinese Ambassador Du Wei, who died at his home in the coastal city of Herzliya, during a ceremony at Ben-Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Wednesday, May 20, 2020. China sent a team to Israel to repatriate the body of its ambassador. (Photo by Jack Guez/Pool via AP)

On Wednesday at Israel’s Ben Gurion international airport on Wednesday, the dead body of China’s ambassador to Israel shifted at the hands Chinese authorities in a ceremony. The victim was reported dead earlier this week.

Israel’s military police carried the ambassador’s wooden coffin which was covered with China’s flag with all physical protection, an AFP correspondent reported.

The coffin was placed on a black altar surrounded by white wreaths of flowers ahead of the body’s repatriation to China.

Ambassador Du Wei was 57 and he had taken his post in Israel in February, with part of his duties including advancing cooperation in high-tech and other sectors.
On Sunday, he was found dead at his own home in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.

The Chinese foreign ministry said that “health reasons” were the presumed cause of Du’s death. He further said that Israel’s police had not made any efforts in conducting a critical criminal investigation into the incident.

Gabi Ashkenazy who is Israel’s new Foreign Minister offered his deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the Du’s family on his sudden loss.