The Israel Foreign Ministry announced today the expulsion of Stelian Perianu, the Second Secretary of the Rumanian Legaion, apparently in retaliation for the expulsion by Rumania of Joseph Vered Second Secretary at the Israel Legation in Bucharest.
The Israel Foreign Ministry communique said that the Rumanian Minister was called in and informed that the Israel Government had proof that Perianu had “most seriously violated diplomatic usage by maintaining contact with Israel citizens in matters affecting the security of the state. ” Perianu was asked to leave Israel within three days.
Vered was declared persona non grata by the Communist satellite government on charges of having persuaded Rumanian Jews to migrate to Israel and of having advised them how to leave. The Israeli Charge d’Affaires denied the Rumanian charges and submitted a strong protest about the expulsion order.
The Vered expulsion was the second in two weeks by a Soviet satellite. Poland having ousted Jacob Barmor, Second Secretary of Israel in Warsaw. It was reported that in view of the generally good Israel-Polish relations, the Israel Government was not planning to expel any Polish diplomat in retaliation.
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