Israel’s Netanyahu postpones Europe trip: reports
By Vasilije Gallak on May 27, 2009 in Featured, Israel
Tel Aviv – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed a planned trip to Europe next week, local media reported Wednesday.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Officials cited in the reports said Netanyahu feared becoming involved in a diplomatic spat over his refusal to endorse publicly the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A “senior official” in Netanyahu’s office however was quoted as saying the visit, had been postponed because of more urgent matters in Israel which needed the prime minister’s attention, such as ensuring passage of the state budget.
The visit was to have been Netanyahu’s first to France and Italy since he was sworn in as premier on March 31. (dpa)