Japan's Prime Minister has canceled a trip to Israel and the Palestinian region originally scheduled next week, due to his Israeli counterpart's grave health condition, the Kyodo News reported Thursday, citing a government announcement.
Nevertheless, Junichiro Koizumi will still visit Turkey as planned, it said, adding that his stay in the country will be from Jan. 9 to 13.
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said the government will reconsider the premier's planned trip to the Middle East, which was announced last month. Koizumi had intended to visit Israel, the Palestinian region and Turkey on Jan. 7 to 13.
The Israeli leader Ariel Sharon, 77, suffered a massive stroke Wednesday and underwent a seven-hour surgery to drain blood from his brain in a Jerusalem hospital.