Medvedev cancels Israel visit over strike

MOSCOW, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will travel to Jordan and the Palestinian Authority despite being forced to cancel a visit to Israel, officials said.

Medvedev, who was due to visit Israel Jan. 17-19, was forced to cancel his trip because of a strike by Israel's Foreign Ministry employees.

"The Russian president's visit has been postponed until there are conditions that allow us to prepare for such a visit properly," RIA Novosti quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor as saying Tuesday.

Medvedev said he regretted having to cancel the visit which had been planned months in advance but said he was aware of the "technical administrative difficulties in Israel, Ynetnews.com said. Medvedev said the issue will not affect relations between the two countries.

President Shimon Peres telephoned and apologized to Medvedev for the disruption caused by the ministry's sanctions, a statement issued by the president's office said.

Medvedev and Peres agreed to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, at the end of the month, the Russian news agency said.

For the second week in a row, Israel's Foreign Ministry employees are protesting low salaries.