South Korea lowers status of Peres visit in wake of Gaza flotilla raid
Facing international pressure and threat of protests, Seoul downgrades visit from 'state' to 'working'.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Shimon Peres Israel news Gaza flotillaSouth Korea announced on Sunday that it would downgrade the status of President Shimon Peres' planned trip to Seoul, due to international pressure in the wake of Israel's deadly raid on a humanitarian aid convoy bound for the Gaza Strip last week.
Pressure from Arab states and other Muslim allies have led the South Korean government to change the status of Peres' trip from an official "state visit" to a routine "working visit".
Peres' visit is expected to yield a wave of demonstrations across the state; South Korea has even suggested postponing the trip to another date.
The president is meant to take off for Seoul on Monday. The visit was planned months ago, and was to be the first time an Israeli president had visited South Korea and Vietnam in an official capacity. But the trip now faces threat of cancellation due to the events of the flotilla and the harsh criticism of Israel over recent days.
Vietnam three days ago asked Peres to cancel his visit due to the atmosphere of anti-Israel sentiments within its borders, and the South Korean government has begun to send Jerusalem its own hints of crisis.
At this point, however, it seems Peres will make the trip to South Korea and agree to accept its lowered status.
"With the current international situation, it is impossible for us to initiate canceling these trips," Peres said in closed talks on Sunday.
Pro-Palestinian organizations in South Korea have begun to prepare their demonstrations against the visiting Israeli president. One of the groups managed to get its hands on Peres' full itinerary – including the hotel where the president is planning to stay – and published it on its website along with calls to join the protests.
It was these calls to protest that led the South Korea government to consider canceling the visit and to decide on the need for increased security and a revised itinerary for the Israeli president's visit.
For instance, Peres will no longer be granted an honorary doctorate at the University of Seoul during his visit, nor will he meet with students there. The South Korean government is worried that angry students may try to attack Peres or take protest measures that would embarrass the Israeli president.
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President Shimon Peres |
| Photo by: Itzik Ben-Malkhi |
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ottoman empire has saved jewishes from spanish massacre in 1492 but now unarmed turks were killed by israel this is very sad as muhanitarian
Peres does not deserve this cowardly gesture by the South Koreans. Say thanks, but no thanks.
You ll all be sorry when they take ovr your countries...
good if it stops here ,who knows what comes in the future because of foolish actions of Barak and Netenyahoo company of destruction.
I think President Shimon Peres, as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, should condemn Israel's attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy, to be welcomed in other countries. I am sure Peres is involved in the attack
The pipsqueak regime in South Korea, which hasn't been able to survive without American aid, has no right to diminish Peres' stature and mission North Korea just sunk one of their boats and they're already forgotten what it's like to face an opponent that hates your guts
"The pipsqueak regime in South Korea, which hasn't been able to survive without American aid" Replace Israel with South Korea.
I just returned from Korea. It is a spectacularly wonderful country filled with wonderful people. You shamefully malign them. From rumble in 1953 they have built the 11th strongest economy on Earth with a small population. From Israel, you are not even qualified to comment.
so, Israel better coöperate with international investigations and stop the blockade of Gaza. For a start!
Good Job, South Corea :-)
As a man who goes abroad primarily to sing hosannahs for nothing more controversial than "motherhood and apple pie"--this arguably says something worth taking note of.
Korea is worried that the students will embarras Korea. Amazing the South Koreans bowing to, protesters to downgrade a vist. clearly South Korea has learned nothing when it comes to fighting terrorists whish might explain its non response to North koreas sinking of its ship. Clearloy the ROK has lost its edge .
understand in the ME conflict? Do they also have an opinion? Wave of protests?
ask peres about the ship..
ask peres about the ship..
Probably, the "most moral army in the world" should come to the realization that, after all, it may, just may, not be "most moral" after all.
Bwaaaaaaaaah! If he had any dignty he wouldn't go at all .But he doesn't have any
President is honarable &respected man. Most of your past leaders were good people also. Your current premier is a dangerous & hateful man.I have been obserwing him, ever since he was your ambassoder @ UN. he will harm Israel, I have no doubt. Sincerely yours
International Red Cross Manual on Laws of the Sea - public domain document - 1994 / 1995 ... http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/57JMSU ... Paragraphs of Interest: 10, 10b, 67, 67a,93,94,96,98
Turkey has a long standing excellent relations with S. Korea since South-North War and Turkey's involvement in the war as a NATO member resulted many Turkish casulties therefore S. Koreans are very grateful since and show their respect every occassion and they sure feel they owe Turks. Koreans also has multi billion dollar investment in Turkey's major cities led by Hyundai. Do they have any reasons to stand by Israel at this stage?