Israel charges French consulate worker with gun running

A French consulate employee in Israel has been charged with gun running and selling the weapons to arms' dealers.

Romain Franck and five Palestinians have been accused of smuggling weapons of Gaza and into the occupied West Bank, AFP reported.

Franck appeared in an Israeli court in Beersheba with two French diplomats looking on, and was remanded until 28 March.

Aged in his early 20s, Israel alleges that Franck took part in a gun-running network that sold arms to dealers.

He is accused of using his diplomatic vehicle to smuggle arms out of Gaza and into the occupied West Bank.

Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency said he acted on his own and was motivated by money.

A total of nine people have been arrested in the case.