Iraq team cancels visit to Palestine to avoid dealing with Israel

An Iraqi delegation led by National Security Adviser, Qassem Al-Araji, had to cancel its scheduled visit to the occupied Palestinian territories at the last minute on Sunday, after Israel stipulated that they only enter through its ports, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

The news site quoted an Iraqi security official who asked not to be named as saying that the delegation was scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a show of solidarity and support for the Palestinian people.

The unnamed Iraqi official said the delegation planned to travel directly from Jordan to Ramallah on board a helicopter, but the Israeli authorities stipulated that they only enter through its ports, which they rejected.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that the Iraqi airplane had already obtained the necessary approvals from the competent authorities, while Al-Araji and his team were in Jordan when the visit was cancelled at the last minute.

Al-Araji arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, late on Sunday evening. Plans are being made for the visit to take place in the coming days.

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