Denial of communication equipment injects irritant into President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Israel

RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM: Israel's dogged refusal to permit entry of computer communication equipment, which was to have been gifted to a Palestinian university by President Pranab Mukherjee has introduced, an irritant into his landmark visit to the Jewish state starting today.

Mukherjee, who arrived in Palestine on Monday for an overnight visit, is scheduled to gift some computers along with the communication equipment to the India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology at the Al-Quds University in Ramallah, the seat of Palestine Authority.

The equipment is to come through Israel. However, Israel has declined to allow entry to any communication equipment on grounds of security but has permitted computers to be brought in. The computers will now be handed over to the university without the communication equipment.

Mukherjee will become the first Indian President to visit Israel where he travels from Ramallah tomorrow on a three-day visit.

The Israelis have welcomed the visit which they see as a landmark in bilateral ties but have nevertheless stuck to their guns on the communication equipment.