UNICEF suspends senior staff member on suspicion of spying for Israel

NEW YORK, Aug. 08 (YPA) – The United Nations announced that UNICEF has taken action against a staff member named Yahav Lechner following allegations of spying for Israel during his previous work at the United Nations Population Fund.

Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, said that these serious allegations are contrary to the UN staff’s obligations of impartiality and independence, and that Lechner, who heads the UNICEF office in Washington, has been placed on administrative leave.

The investigation, published by DropSite, was based on leaked emails from 2014 and 2015 alleging that Lechner leaked confidential information to Israeli officials.