Officials: Chinese ambassador to Israel found dead in home

JERUSALEM — The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.

Israeli Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the ambassador’s death appears to be from natural causes.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed envoy in February amid the coronavirus pandemic. He previously served as China’s envoy to

Ukraine. He was found dead at the ambassador’s official residence in Herzliya, and is survived by a wife and son, both of whom were not in Israel.

The ambassador’s death came two days after he condemned comments by visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak.