The envoy, Tsuriel Raphael, identified himself to police after a rubber ball was taken out of his mouth, according to Israeli media reports. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Zehavit Ben-Hillel, said he was removed from his post because of "behaviour that is unbecoming of a diplomat", and not because his activities were unlawful.

Mr Raphael, who was single and in his 50s, had served in San Salvador for six months on his first ambassadorial appointment. Prior to that posting he was deputy ambassador in Madrid and had been director of the Israel Information Centre in Jerusalem.

It is the second incident involving an Israeli official posted abroad this year. The head of the Israeli Defence Ministry Mission to Europe, David Dahan, was found dead in the Seine near Rouen in January.

It was later established that Dahan had committed suicide and no foul play was suspected.