Israel - Rumsfeld Visit Scrapped

Israel - Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld reportedly canceled a visit to Israel in light of the flare-up in Gaza Strip fighting.

Rumsfeld, who was expected for high-level talks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv next week, canceled the trip out of concern it could be perceived as open U.S. support for Israel's offensive in Gaza.
It would have been the first Israel visit for Rumsfeld since he took over the Pentagon, serving, among other purposes, to show bilateral ties had been repaired following a fracas last year over Israeli arms exports to China. The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv had no immediate comment on the report.