Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been compelled to cancel a planned visit to Berlin due to mild flu-type symptoms, his aides report. The prime minister reportedly has a low grade fever and accompanying symptoms. The prime minister’s private physician, Dr. Tzvi Hirsh Berkowitz, announced Mr. Netanyahu has a “viral infection”.

Critics are already connecting the cancelation to the imminent prisoner release deal that is intended to bring Gilad Shalit home, with Germany playing a key mediation role. In addition, the cancelation follows last week’s sharp remarks released by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who harshly condemned Israel’s settlement policies, stating her government remains adamantly opposed to settlements, which are indeed hamper ongoing regional peace efforts. The German leader was referring to the planned construction of approximately 900 housing units in Gilo, a southern neighborhood in the capital, an area viewed as “occupied” by Israel’s allies since it was liberated in the June 1967 Six Day War.

In her recent statement, Merkel announced she really “regrets” the planned construction in Gilo as was reported by YWN-Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)