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Prince Charles (Reuters)
Last update - 11:06 17/11/2007
E-mail snub to Israel by Prince Charles' aides sparks furor
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Prince Charles 

Senior aides to Britain's Prince Charles said there is "no chance" the prince would ever visit Israel as such a visit would boost Israel's international image. The aides wrote the comments, in August E-mails, after outgoing Israeli ambassador to Britain Zvi Heifetz extended an invitation to the prince via principal private secretary Sir Michael Peat and deputy private secretary Clive Alderton.

In E-mails published Thursday in London by The Jewish Chronicle, Peat politely thanked Heifetz and said the prince "would love to come." However, in a later E-mail Alderton sent to Peat, he complained that he was "being pursued."

Alderton asked is it "safe to assume there is no chance of this visit ever actually happening?" Alderton noted, "Acceptance would make it hard to avoid the many ways in which Israel would want HRH [Prince Charles] to help burnish its international image. In which case, let's agree a way to lower its expectations."
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The publication of the E-mails in the newspaper with the largest distribution in the British Jewish community is already causing a storm. Some community leaders asked to comment have stressed Prince Charles' fondness for the community and Jewish matters, while others are critical of his refusal to visit Israel.

There has never been an official visit of a member of the British royal family to Israel. Charles came to Israel in a private capacity for a few hours in 1995 for the funeral of slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Prince Edward, the earl of Wessex and the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth, came to Israel for a visit classified as "private," in September. He had been invited by the Israel Youth Award program, a self-development group for Jewish and Arab youth that is affiliated with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association.

His father, Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh, has also visited Israel to tour Yad Vashem, where a tree was planted in honor of his mother Princess Alice of Greece, who was recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations" for sheltering a Jewish family in her Athens home during the Holocaust.

In the past, senior British government sources and sources close to the royal family have said no official visit could take place before a peace agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Charles' spokesman told The Jewish Chronicle in response to the report: "This is simply an internal E-mail about a possible visit by Clarence House officials to Israel. Any potential visit by the Prince of Wales would be undertaken at the recommendation of the government. The prince is continuing his regular engagement with the Jewish community in the UK and abroad.

Outgoing Israeli Ambassador Zvi Heifetz, who worked throughout his service to improve Israel's image, stated that "if that is what is written between two people so close to the prince, it reeks of worse than hypocrisy."

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      1.   Such a Anti Semitic Guy 04:30  |  ralphsrant1 16/11/07
      2.   Why should the Prince of Wales 04:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/11/07
      3.   A horse is a horse is a horse 04:37  |  Mendeleyev 16/11/07
      4.   Charles` image 04:49  |  Observer 16/11/07
      5.   Why would he want to visit an Apartheid State? 04:55  |  POP 16/11/07
      6.   Good For Him 04:55  |  Wally 16/11/07
      7.   Prince Charles 04:55  |  geoff 16/11/07
      8.   What do you expect 05:06  |  Alan 16/11/07
      9.   Everybody has to love Israel 05:07  |  Colin Wright 16/11/07
      10.   Persona non grata 05:10  |  Alan 16/11/07
      11.   WHO CARES ABOUT THIS SCOUNDREL PLAYBOY ON THE BRITISH PAYROLL? 05:10  |  VOICE)))))))) 16/11/07
      12.   the visit 05:28  |  Shmuelshachor 16/11/07
      13.   An anti-semite? 05:36  |  a reader 16/11/07
      14.   #5, Alan, exactly 05:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/11/07
      15.   prince charles 06:07  |  Dennis Slapo 16/11/07
      16.   Sad to say it 06:11  |  Sam 16/11/07
      17.   To Hell With the Weirdo 06:12  |  Tod Zuckerman 16/11/07
      18.   LET PRICE CHARLES STAY HOME 06:28  |  * BEN JABO 16/11/07
      19.   H... R... H... 06:48  |  Arnold Levy 16/11/07
      20.   A Royal Wart 06:50  |  Bill Foonman 16/11/07
      21.   British Royals Not Friendly to Jews / Israel 07:02  |  Liliane 16/11/07
      22.   Harry showed the royals true colours 07:03  |  miloimnick frm north 16/11/07
      23.   H... R... H... 07:08  |  jg 16/11/07
      24.   Prince Charles and what used to be the British Empire 07:09  |  Scott Havsy 16/11/07
      25.   Delusion 07:10  |  Philippe 16/11/07
      26.   Storm in an English tea-cup 07:18  |  sh 16/11/07
      27.   The reason that Israel cares what Prince Charles says.. 07:24  |  Natallie Durson 16/11/07
      28.   Cipora Julianna Kohn # 9 07:26  |  Philippe 16/11/07
      29.   Bully! 07:27  |  Hopeful 16/11/07
      30.   STAY AWAY! 07:41  |  Neil 16/11/07
      31.   There are enough parasites 07:51  |  NJG 16/11/07
      32.   ONE CELLED ANIMAL 07:54  |  NEAL 16/11/07
      33.   Who Cares! 08:06  |  Zelkha 16/11/07
      34.   Don`t panic 08:24  |  bobo 16/11/07
      35.   THE Royals don`t mind boosting the Saudi image for a quid. 08:27  |  PETER SM 16/11/07
      36.   Prince Charles holding the key to ME peace 08:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/11/07
      37.   Those angry Jews are not obliged to... 08:34  |  Dutch Dirk 16/11/07
      38.   #5 You have got it right 08:38  |  ka 16/11/07
      39.   still bitter that we kicked them out of our country 08:40  |  don 16/11/07
      40.   He`s welcome in Gaza 08:43  |  Jeff Jafaar 16/11/07
      41.   Why do you want this islamic apologist? 08:43  |  shaun 16/11/07
      42.   A Visit bt Charlie Would Improve Israel`s Image, How? 08:48  |  Michael 16/11/07
      43.   The Royal Family 08:50  |  MJ 16/11/07
      44.   he visited Iran a few years ago 08:55  |  Iranian Canadian 16/11/07
      45.   peace 08:57  |  democrat 16/11/07
      46.   JEW HATE IS A LONG LEGACY OF THAT SHITTY LITTLE ISLAND ENGLAND 08:58  |  Elizabeth 16/11/07
      47.   Let His Royal Tampon (HRT) Stay Home 09:04  |  Yishai Kohen 16/11/07
      48.   Prince Charles 09:07  |  Naim S. Mahlab 16/11/07
      49.   The Prince 09:08  |  Henry 16/11/07
      50.   Israel is Unfashionable 09:14  |  guy 16/11/07
      51.   PLEASE DO US ALL A FAVOR AND STAY IN ENGLAND 09:15  |  Jew 16/11/07
      52.   Those pestering, mithering, demanding, whining Israelis 09:23  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      53.   criminal state 09:25  |  Londoner 16/11/07
      54.   Antisemitism stiff upper lip style!! 09:27  |  Yoel 16/11/07
      55.   Reply to Sam (Post No. 11) 09:27  |  Johnny Weintraub 16/11/07
      56.   Charlie boy 09:32  |  thinking clearly 16/11/07
      57.   DUTCH DRK.You are not obliged to be a hero of Arabia in Holland 09:32  |  PETER S.M. 16/11/07
      58.   LINTHWAITE.Brits have been killing Jews throughout history. 09:47  |  PETER S.M. 16/11/07
      59.   Prince Charles furor 09:47  |  I.Kemp 16/11/07
      60.   Jerusalem or Prince Charles......????? 09:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/11/07
      61.   CFOOL.Gimme?What exactly are you GIVING Israel. 09:57  |  PETER S .M. 16/11/07
      62.   #37, Dino 10:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/11/07
      63.   Queen`s Uncle Loved Hitler 10:01  |  Albert 16/11/07
      64.   rRe Mendel #3 10:01  |  Esther 16/11/07
      65.   Dutch and Londoner: Image of Holland / UK worse than Israel 10:05  |  Laila 16/11/07
      66.   Heifetz is a trouble maker 10:05  |  Jon 16/11/07
      67.   Re Observer #4 10:06  |  Esther 16/11/07
      68.   British Royal Family Supported the Nzis 10:10  |  Shmuel Saitowitz 16/11/07
      69.   Charles Windsor is no gentleman 10:10  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/11/07
      70.   Re Chris #2 10:10  |  Esther 16/11/07
      71.   Charles` presence would debase Israel 10:12  |  Arthur 16/11/07
      72.   Not surprising 10:18  |  Daniel Wein 16/11/07
      73.   #18 There you go Ben Jabo 10:18  |  ballistic 16/11/07
      74.   prince Charles 10:21  |  joseph theeboom 16/11/07
      75.   Israel is no Apartheid state. 10:23  |  Christian Van Nieker 16/11/07
      76.   For Peter SM # 62 10:24  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      77.   Haaretz, it is impossible to access your 10:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/11/07
      78.   UK ROYAL VISIT TO ISRAEL 10:29  |  PARIS 16/11/07
      79.   For Shmuel Saitowitz # 69 10:32  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      80.   For Christian Van Nieker, an expert on apartheid # 76 10:35  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      81.   WHO CHARLES THINK HE IS? 10:39  |  indrajaya 16/11/07
      82.   Re Natallie #28 10:42  |  Esther 16/11/07
      83.   #53 Clickfool 10:42  |  Eugene 16/11/07
      84.   Fox hunters will be fox hunters 10:46  |  Tzvi 16/11/07
      85.   Re Scott #24 10:53  |  Esther 16/11/07
      86.   Tell us more, Tzvi # 85 11:00  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      87.   Prince Charles being a Freemason... 11:03  |  Maureen Ann 16/11/07
      88.   Hey Christian down in South Africa, 11:03  |  ballistic 16/11/07
      89.   Re bobo #35...you`ve said it all! 11:10  |  Esther 16/11/07
      90.   "The Royal Family" 11:13  |  David Ben Yishai 16/11/07
      91.   why is israel chasing people? 11:14  |  harzion 16/11/07
      92.   the british royal family`s iq is on par with nigeria 11:20  |  bellcurve 16/11/07
      93.   # 63 Cipora Julianna Kohn (2nd try) 11:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/11/07
      94.   not one of the family would have attended university on merit 11:24  |  thickastwoplanks 16/11/07
      95.   Jon 11:25  |  sh 16/11/07
      96.   the prince is as vain as a peacock and dresses 11:26  |  allisvanity 16/11/07
      97.   clickfool the royal family area natural for the 11:29  |  mosely 16/11/07
      98.   #77 Clickfool 11:30  |  Daybreak 16/11/07
      99.   diana once said she was thick as two planks 11:30  |  dimbulb 16/11/07
      100.   truly i have never come across a family so entirely 11:33  |  balmoral 16/11/07
      101.   israel should not ask twice 11:36  |  harzion 16/11/07
      102.   #81 clickfool 11:41  |  danny 16/11/07
      103.   the prince on a visit to china 11:45  |  greatwall 16/11/07
      104.   #53 the yellow streak and the usual ignorance 11:48  |  victor hardman 16/11/07
      105.   haaretz i must protest 11:50  |  phillipsaidso 16/11/07
      106.   #81 FOOL on Christians feelings towards your socalled Kaffirs 11:58  |  Joe Moer 16/11/07
      107.   PRINCE CHARLES A RIGHT ROYAL LOSER ! ! 12:01  |  W.Wanker 16/11/07
      108.   londoner 12:03  |  danny 16/11/07
      109.   Charles has always been an Arabist and fan of Muslims 12:03  |  SystemF 16/11/07
      110.   teh royals and the reich by jonathan petropolous 12:05  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      111.   philip said he heard no one expressing antisemitic views 12:08  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      112.   prince charles 12:09  |  HM 16/11/07
      113.   the royal family and the third reich included pictures 12:11  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      114.   Irgun and Stern killed scores of UK officers 12:12  |  mehmet 16/11/07
      115.   prince charles has gone out of his way to be friendly 12:28  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      116.   most important of all 12:30  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      117.   re: clickfool 12:30  |  efman 16/11/07
      118.   Clickfool,Natalie Durson,Pop,ballistic and othe friends,while it 12:30  |  lakshmi 16/11/07
      119.   Will everyone please calm down 12:31  |  Richard Cohen 16/11/07
      120.   to clickfool 12:32  |  ka 16/11/07
      121.   HRH irrelevant 12:36  |  Stan 16/11/07
      122.   #115 Mehmet 12:36  |  Daybreak 16/11/07
      123.   Lackwit 12:45  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/11/07
      124.   Who cares? Whatr really saddens me - Camilla is not coming... 12:46  |  17 16/11/07
      125.   why do we need that visit 12:47  |  vladimir 16/11/07
      126.   Richard Cohen 12:47  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/11/07
      127.   Let him get what he deserves 12:51  |  Concerned citizen 16/11/07
      128.   @37, swiss dino you are more idiot than i thought. 13:00  |  vladimir 16/11/07
      129.   ka 13:01  |  Stan 16/11/07
      130.   Whatever does it matter? 13:10  |  English Resident 16/11/07
      131.   # 127 Margie, has it gotten a bit late last night..... 13:11  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/11/07
      132.   @61, swiss dino, you cont. to be stupidier and more 13:12  |  vladimir 16/11/07
      133.   128 Concerned Citizen 13:24  |  tampon 16/11/07
      134.   richard cohen 13:26  |  yirmiyahu 16/11/07
      135.   richard cohen 13:30  |  harzion 16/11/07
      136.   richard cohen 13:34  |  yaheskel 16/11/07
      137.   Charles once intimated that he would like to be reborn 13:43  |  17 16/11/07
      138.   Richard Cohen 13:44  |  rich 16/11/07
      139.   #115 MEHMET 13:57  |  IL supporter 16/11/07
      140.   Not-So-Great-Britain 14:04  |  NDM 16/11/07
      141.   Israel, first find OIL, then the world will come 14:09  |  Ronnbo 16/11/07
      142.   The UK in WWII & 1948 14:09  |  Mr. T 16/11/07
      143.   Snub??? 14:10  |  paul 16/11/07
      144.   Anglican 14:16  |  ricardo lion 16/11/07
      145.   You`re getting desperate, "Elizabeth" # 47 14:24  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      146.   For Efman # 118 14:34  |  Clickfool 16/11/07
      147.   You`re all such a hypocritical lot 14:37  |  Abba 16/11/07
      148.   if only he`d married that.. 14:38  |  ROB OF MELBOURNE AUS 16/11/07
      149.   Does Israel need a tampon? 14:40  |  Jonathan S 16/11/07
      150.   124 Margie of TA.back to your normal style of writing,I can see! 14:40  |  lakshmi 16/11/07
      151.   Get a game of polo up and he will be there in a flash as long 14:48  |  r 16/11/07
      152.   NON ENTITY 14:49  |  soggy liberal 16/11/07
      153.   38# 14:49  |  Teacher 16/11/07
      154.   Who cares if Camilla`s tampon comes? 14:49  |  SH 16/11/07
      155.   arrogant 14:50  |  paul 500 Internal Server Error

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      156.   charles 14:50  |  gordon 16/11/07
      157.   Charles is an anachronistic boor with less class 15:00  |  The Equalizer 16/11/07
      158.   His wife dated an Arab his son dressed up as a Nazi so it`s not s 15:04  |  Churchilla 16/11/07
      159.   LOSE THE GAME TO THE RUSSIANS ! 15:05  |  david 16/11/07
      160.   King Hussein was nicer than the flying elephant 15:05  |  Churchilla 16/11/07
      161.