France has complained to Israel about the treatment of one of its diplomats who it says was detained last week at the Erez border crossing with Gaza.

Catherine Hyver says she was held for 17 hours without food or water after refusing to allow a search of her car.

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There has been no word from Israel on the incident, which comes days before a visit by France's president.

It will be Nicolas Sarkozy's first visit to Israel since he took office in May 2007.

France says Ms Hyver, who is based at the country's consulate in Jerusalem, was detained on 11-12 June.

"We deplore the conditions in which our vice-consul in Jerusalem was held," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani.

France, like most countries, keeps its embassy in Tel Aviv as it does not recognise Israel's occupation of east Jerusalem and its claim to the whole city as its capital.

(BBC)

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