Dangerous liasons

The diplomatic corps has long had the sparkle of international jet-set chic, but the Israeli foreign service has gone above and beyond in their devotion to decadence:

Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found drunk and naked apart from bondage gear.

[...]

Tsuriel Raphael was found by El Salvador police two weeks ago in the yard of his official residence, according to Israeli media reports. After the officers untied and ungagged him, he told them he was the ambassador of Israel.

The foreign ministry spokeswoman said the reports were true but stressed Mr Raphael had not broken any laws. "We're talking about behaviour that is unbecoming of a diplomat," she said.

There's nothing wrong with a little tie-me-up play among consenting adults, although I'm certain that a little tie-me-up play in the front yard of the official residence of an ambassador qualifies as "behaviour that is unbecoming of a diplomat." Fortunately, Mr. Raphael's indiscretion pales in comparison to those of his peers:

The embarrassing affair is one of several involving Israeli diplomats in recent years.

In 2000, Israel's ambassador to France died of cardiac arrest in a Paris hotel under circumstances the foreign ministry refused to publicise. Media reports said he was with a woman who was not his wife at the time.

Last year, Israel replaced its ambassador to Australia, Naftali Tamir, after he said Israel and Australia are "like sisters" because both are in Asia and their peoples do not have "yellow skin and slanted eyes".

In 2005, Israel cancelled the appointment of a diplomat to Australia after it was discovered that he had published pictures of nude Brazilian women on the internet while on a mission in Brazil.