TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon postponed a trip to Miami and Los Angeles following Democratic Party criticism that he would be appearing beside Florida's Republican governor, Jeb Bush, the president's brother who is running for re-election.
Sharon was had been scheduled to be in the United States Sept. 9-12. The nominating primary elections in Florida are scheduled for Sept. 10 with the general election set for Nov. 5.
The Prime Minister's media adviser, Raanan Gissin, told United Press International the trip was postponed because of "security and economic issues that are on the agenda and that require the prime minister's presence (in Israel) during these days."
The visit will take place "in a more convenient time," he said.
Sharon had cancelled appearances before U.S. Jews during his last trip which he cut short and hurried home in an attempt to cope with rising violence.
The September visit was scheduled for a usually a quiet period in Israel -- the week between the Jewish New Year and the Yom Kippur fast day. However, a source who spoke to UPI on condition of anonymity said Sharon was expecting then an American team to discuss planned reforms in the Palestinian Authority and was preparing for a Knesset debate on the budget for 2003. The budget debate is threatening his coalition because his major partners, the Labor and Shas parties, are threatening to vote against the budget.
The Haaretz newspaper said Friday the decision not to go next month was taken a few hours after The New York Times said that Democrats in Florida criticized the planned trip in which Sharon would appear in Miami beside Gov. Jeb Bush.
According to The New York Times, Democrats complained that Sharon's visit would overshadow the last day of primaries there, "and they depicted the visit as an effort by President Bush to recruit the Israeli prime minister for his brother."
The Israeli Consul General in Miami Beach, Mikki Arbel, confirmed to Haaretz that Jewish activists in the Democratic party complained about the visit and asked for explanations about its timing.
