Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Russian foreign minister cancels planned Israel visit, citing ‘personal reasons’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was to have met with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, as well as with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Feb. 11, 2016. Credit: U.S. Department of State.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Feb. 11, 2016. Credit: U.S. Department of State.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday canceled his planned visit to Israel on Sunday, citing “personal reasons.”

Lavrov was to have met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog.

The reason for the cancellation was unclear, with Ynet reporting that it may have been caused by an ongoing workers dispute in the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The Russian foreign minister was to have discussed various topics with Israeli leaders during his visit, including the negotiations in Vienna regarding Iran’s nuclear program, as well as Israel’s military activities in Syria.

“People are free to disagree with me, challenge me and protest my positions. That is democracy. But disagreement is not license for intimidation or harassment,” said Rep. Haley Stevens.
“Whether it’s hosting Miss Israel or meeting with elected officials from Israel, I’m always looking to strengthen” the “deep bond between New York City and Israel,” Eric Dinowitz, a member of the City Council told JNS.
Charlotte Knobloch, who leads the city’s Jewish community, canceled her attendance at a book launch following the incident.
Widawski, a younger brother and an uncle were the only members of the family to survive the Nazi extermination of Jews.