Ooops — Israel hoists Belgian flag to greet German foreign minister

A man with an German flag waits in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, on October 3, 2010, prior to celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Germany's reunification. File photo: AP.

Flying the flag of visiting a statesman’s country is the traditional manner for displaying a diplomatic friendship — but it helps if it’s the right flag.

Israel’s Yediot Ahronoth daily reported on Monday that the Israel’s foreign ministry came close to an embarrassing diplomatic incident minutes before German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle arrived for a meeting with his local counterpart on Sunday.

A security guard noticed that the flag fluttering at the entrance to the ministry had the right colours — but the wrong pattern.

The Belgian flag was hurriedly taken down, and the German flag rung up in its place, just minutes before Westerwelle arrived.