Israeli intelligence eavesdropped on telephone conversations by US Secretary of State John Kerry during his failed attempt to secure a Middle East peace deal last year, according to Germany’s Der Spiegel.

Drawing information from what it calls “several intelligence service sources” the news weekly says the wiretapping occurred as the top US diplomat pursued negotiations with key figures in the region.

At least one other intelligence service also intercepted the calls, Der Spiegel reports in claims that will do nothing to ease tension between Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and Washington.

Kerry in particular and his mediation efforts have faced a barrage of hostile media reports in Israel, apparently fanned by Israeli officials.