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Israel's Barak Calls Off Trip to France

   VOA News 13 June 2010
   Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak attends the weekly cabinet meeting
   in Jerusalem, 13 Jun 2010

Photo: AP

   Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak attends the weekly cabinet meeting
   in Jerusalem, 13 Jun 2010

   Israeli  Defense  Minister  Ehud  Barak  has canceled a visit to Paris
   where he was to take part in an international military exhibition, and
   meet with the French defense and foreign ministers.

   Israel's defense ministry said Sunday that Barak has decided to remain
   in  Israel  until a panel of experts is formed to investigate the raid
   on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

   Earlier  this  month,  Israel  drew  international criticism after its
   soldiers  killed  nine  pro-Palestinian  activists  who were part of a
   flotilla  that was trying to break a blockade and deliver aid directly
   to Gaza.

   French  activists  said they plan on filing a lawsuit against Barak in
   France,  as  well  as  with  the  International  Criminal Court in the
   Netherlands.

   Barak told Israel's parliament last week that an internal inquiry will
   aim  to  establish  whether  Israel's  raid  on the ship, and its Gaza
   blockade, are in keeping with international law.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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