国际英语新闻：Israeli PM cancels trip to Washington

JERUSALEM/OTTAWA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided on Monday to cut short his trip to Canada and the United States and fly back to Israel to deal with the Gaza aid flotilla incident.

He will hold a working meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and update him on the recent events, after which he will leave Canada, the premier's office said in a statement.

Netanyahu is now on a two-day official visit to Canada, starting on Sunday, but scheduled joint media availability by Netanyahu and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday morning has been canceled, according to an official of the National Parliamentary Press Gallery, Canada's CBC News reported.

Netanyahu was originally slated to visit Washington and meet with U.S. President Barak Obama on Tuesday, during which the two leaders had been expected to address Israeli-Palestinian peace process and Israeli-U.S. relations.

Netanyahu on Monday spoke by telephone with Obama and told him about the circumstances that have compelled him to bring forward his return to Israel, the premier's office said.

"The two leaders decided to set a new meeting at a later date and agreed that their professional teams would be in close contact regarding the latest events and developments in the region," the office said in a statement.

Clashes broke out early Monday morning when Israeli naval commandos boarded and tried to gain control of one of the ships in the flotilla. The IDF confirmed at least 10 deaths among the activists, and that several Israeli soldiers were wounded.

Netanyahu has been briefed on the latest developments and repercussions of the clashes, his office said in a statement earlier in the day, adding that Netanyahu "reiterated his full backing for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)."

While it is still unclear how the deadly showdown between the Jewish state and pro-Palestinian campaigners will affect the peace process, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called for a three- day mourning period over the deaths among the activists.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday urged Arab leaders in the region and the Palestinian leadership to show restraint and keep the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in its original track following the Gaza aid flotilla clashes.

"We must not allow the day's events to divert us from what is really important," Barak said in a press conference held in Tel Aviv hours after the incident, adding that the parties should not "miss the opportunity that was achieved with the opening of the proximity talks."