Netanyahu cancels UAE trip amid wife’s hospitalisation and row with Jordan
It was planned to be his first official visit since diplomatic relations were established with the United Arab Emirates
Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned trip to the United Arab Emirates was cancelled at the last minute amid a diplomatic row with Jordan and his wife’s sudden hospitalisation.
The Israeli prime minister was due to make the official visit, a single-day trip and his first to the UAE since diplomatic relations were established last year, on Thursday.
He was planning to meet Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in Dubai.
But Jordan refused to clear his aircraft’s flight path amid a separate row over its own crown prince’s planned visit to the Temple Mount.
And late on Wednesday his wife Sara was admitted to hospital with appendicitis and is expected to remain there for a few days.
Netanyahu’s trip was due to take place ten days before the Israeli general election. It had already been delayed several times because of coronavirus restrictions.
The Jordan crown prince Hussein bin Abdullah’s planned visit to the Old City of Jerusalem was cancelled on Wednesday over a disagreement with Israeli authorities about his security detail, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
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