Two French embassy workers have been arrested by Israeli security services for smuggling weapons from Gaza to the West Bank.

According to Le Figaro, the French newspaper, a 24-year-old employee at the French consulate in Jerusalem admitted smuggling weapons in diplomatic vehicles.

The Shin Bet security service reportedly said Roman Frank had smuggled 70 guns and two rifles.

Mr Frank, a driver for the consulate, was detained for questioning by Israeli security authorities on February 19.

A security guard from East Jerusalem was also arrested. Both men are expected to appear in court today.

The Shin Bet said Mr Frank received the weapons from a Palestinian resident of Gaza who worked at a French cultural center.

He is then believed to have passed them on to someone in the West Bank who sold them to arms dealers.

In a statement the Shin Bet said: “The consulate employee has smuggled weapons on several occasions in recent months, taking advantage of the consular vehicle of the French consulate, which has facilitated the security check at the border crossing, as is customary for these vehicles.

“This is a very serious incident, in which the immunity and privileges granted to foreign missions in Israel was cynically exploited in order to smuggle dozens of weapons that may be used for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces.”

A spokesman for the French embassy in Tel Aviv said: "We take this case very seriously and are in close contact with the Israeli authorities."