Gift to Israeli president Shimon Peres must undergo checks required on plants coming into the country from abroad

Tree given by Barack Obama to Israeli president not dug up – yet

6pm ET update: A tree, presented as a gift by Barack Obama and planted in the garden of the Israeli president's official residence on Wednesday, has not – contrary to earlier reports – been dug up. But it may yet be.

Tests will be carried out on the tree by the ministry of agriculture, required of all plants brought into the country, in the next two to three weeks. According to the Israeli president's office, it is possible that the tree will need to be removed for those tests to take place.

To comply with the Israeli ministry of agriculture rules, the roots of the magnolia tree brought by Obama's entourage on Air Force One were covered in plastic before it was planted on Wednesday.

If the tree passes its inspection, the plastic will be removed and the tree will be replanted.

Earlier report:

After the earlier indignity of the presidential limo breakdown, there are now reports of another snafu to hit Barack Obama's visit to Israel.

The tree brought as a gift to Israel by Obama, and planted earlier on Wednesday, is now said to have been dug up.

The Times of Israel quoted the Israeli news website Ynet saying that the magnolia tree, planted by Obama and Israeli president Shimon Peres, had not undergone the requisite checks.

According to the Times of Israel:

Ynet is reporting that by order of the Agriculture Ministry, the magnolia tree brought from the US by the president and planted by Obama and Peres earlier this afternoon is being dug up. Really. Plants cannot be brought in from abroad "without undergoing a check" by the ministry, the report quotes the bureaucrats as saying. If this were April 1, we'd assume this was a wind-up.

Maariv quoted Ayelet Frish, a spokesman for the Israeli president's office, as saying there was no diplomatic gaffe and that Israel had been aware of the Obama's plans to bring the tree on Air Force One in advance.

According to the LA Times, Obama said at the tree-planting ceremony: "It is an incredible honor to offer this tree to this beautiful garden, and to someone who is champion of the Israeli people and a champion of peace ... And we're very good gardeners."

The Blaze said Obama went on to say: "I'm sure this tree is going to do great."