NZ and Israel in diplomatic rift

Foreign Minister Murray McCully. File photo / Sarah Ivey

New Zealand is involved in a diplomatic quarrel with Israel after the Israeli Government rejected New Zealand's newly nominated ambassador, Jonathan Curr, because he was also accredited to the Palestinian Authority.

Mr Curr was heading to to Israel this week to present his credentials to President Reuven Rivlin, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

But when he told the foreign ministry he also planned to travel to Ramallah to meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas as well, Israel objected.

They told Mr Curr that it violated diplomatic protocol, according to Haaretz, and that unless his dual credentials were cancelled he could not be ambassador to Israel.

Haaretz said the issue threatened to become a diplomatic crisis.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully told the Herald that since 2008 New Zealand's ambassador to Israel, who is resident in Ankara, Turkey, has performed both roles.

"Concerns have not been raised until now," he said.

"We are looking into what arrangements can be made to ensure we have appropriate representation for Israel and the Palestinian Authority."