Cabinet Minister to visit Israel

Press, 11 May 1989, Page 6

Cabinet Minister to visit Israel

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

Israel will receive its first high-level visitor from New Zealand in some years next month, with the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Margaret Shields, planning a four-day stop-over. A delighted Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Efraim Eldar, announced the visit yesterday at a function marking the forty-first anniversary of the founding of Israel.

New Zealand has in recent months been critical of Israel’s handling of the Palestinian uprising. Last month, a joint Aus-tralian-New Zealand statement was made to the United Nations which regretted the use of force to quell unrest, urging Israel to respond to the P.L.O.’s peace initiative.

Mrs Shields said the details of her visit were still being confirmed. She said, however, her main purpose in visiting Israel was to meet women’s groups and Government leaders, as well as observing attempts to find a peaceful settlement. Women’s groups had been active in resettlement projects and peace initiatives, she said. “So, it is entirely appropriate that I as Minister of Women’s Affairs should go,” Mrs Shields said. The invitation to visit had been extended by Mr Eldar when he learnt Mrs Shields was planning a trip to Europe. No Cabinet Minister from the Lange Government has previously visited Israel.