JTA: Global Jewish News - 10.16.2006

Ukrainian leader not coming to Israel

(JTA) — Ukraine’s president will not visit Israel next month, contrary to reports. A press officer for Viktor Yuschenko told JTA last Friday that earlier reports of a state visit to Israel in early November were “a newspaper hoax.”

Earlier this month, some media reported from Berlin that Yuschenko announced his upcoming visit to Israel when he and Israel’s vice premier, Shimon Peres, received a prestigious international award in the German capital.

A member of Yuschenko’s administration told JTA that the visit is likely to take place at a later date but could not specify when.

This is at least the third time in two years that a potential visit by Yuschenko to Israel has been postponed.