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May. 1, 2004 21:27 | Updated May. 2, 2004 0:53
Schwarzenegger to visit Jordan
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a surprise detour to Jordan, after being criticized for snubbing Palestinians during his trip.
Schwarzenegger's staff disclosed yesterday that he would add a stop in Jordan to his itinerary ? a move that came after Arab-Americans in California, whom at 600,000 make up about 1.7 percent of the state's population, complained.
The celebrity-actor-turned-politician arrived in Israel yesterday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Center of Human Dignity Museum of Tolerance, sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in Jerusalem today.
Schwarzenegger is to fly by helicopter to Jordan on Monday for a private lunch with King Abdullah II, a personal friend who has visited his Brentwood home.
The moderate Arab nation has a large Palestinian population. It is closely allied to the US, has a peace treaty with Israel, and enjoys relative stability in the volatile Middle East.
The governor's spokeswoman, Margita Thompson, said that the change of plans was not connected to the complaints. However, the governor and the king are expected to discuss "regional" problems, including the plight of Palestinians, she said.
While Schwarzenegger is a strong supporter of Israel, "he has friends throughout the world that represent a myriad of interests," Thompson said.
The groundbreaking ceremony at the museum is supposed to be open to the public, security permitting. Schwarzenegger is then to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and President Moshe Katsav.
The Austrian actor-turned-politician came to Israel by private jet on his first trip outside the US as governor, at the invitation of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The $200-million center, designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, is expected to be completed in 2007. The museum, which will include a theater complex, conference center, library, gallery and lecture halls, will focus on issues of human dignity and responsibility and seek to promote unity and respect among Jews and between people of all faiths.
Schwarzenegger's visit, which was in doubt just weeks ago due to the tense security situation in the country, coincides with today's Likud referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's "disengagement plan."
Schwarzenegger began the trip ? his third to Israel ? in Tel Aviv, where he attended a gala dinner sponsored by the Israel Export Institute, under the patronage of Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert at the Tel Aviv Hilton hotel, where he spent the night.
This evening, the governor is scheduled speak at a private dinner hosted by museum officials at the King David Hotel.
In a speech earlier this month, Schwarzenegger called the visit, planned over a year ago, "an extraordinary moment for me." The California governor decided to go ahead with the trip despite a national security alert in place, and an updated warning issued by the US State Department on Wednesday urging Americans to delay travel to Israel.
In light of continuing violence in the Middle East, the governor "feels it's critically important to keep his commitment to go to Israel and continue a dialogue about tolerance," spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh had said.
"I think it's a statement of solidarity with the state of Israel," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Wiesenthal center in Los Angeles, who called the visit an "historic occasion." A longtime donor to the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger has contributed more than $1 million to the institute.
An investigation done by the Wiesenthal center at Schwarzenegger's request concluded that his father, a police officer, joined the Nazi Party in January 1941, but found no evidence that he was involved in war crimes.
Schwarzenegger was last in Israel nine years ago for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Planet Hollywood restaurant on Tel Aviv's beachfront.
AP contributed to this report.
May. 1, 2004 21:27 | Updated May. 2, 2004 0:53
Schwarzenegger to visit Jordan
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a surprise detour to Jordan, after being criticized for snubbing Palestinians during his trip.
Schwarzenegger's staff disclosed yesterday that he would add a stop in Jordan to his itinerary ? a move that came after Arab-Americans in California, whom at 600,000 make up about 1.7 percent of the state's population, complained.
The celebrity-actor-turned-politician arrived in Israel yesterday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Center of Human Dignity Museum of Tolerance, sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in Jerusalem today.
Schwarzenegger is to fly by helicopter to Jordan on Monday for a private lunch with King Abdullah II, a personal friend who has visited his Brentwood home.
The moderate Arab nation has a large Palestinian population. It is closely allied to the US, has a peace treaty with Israel, and enjoys relative stability in the volatile Middle East.
The governor's spokeswoman, Margita Thompson, said that the change of plans was not connected to the complaints. However, the governor and the king are expected to discuss "regional" problems, including the plight of Palestinians, she said.
While Schwarzenegger is a strong supporter of Israel, "he has friends throughout the world that represent a myriad of interests," Thompson said.
The groundbreaking ceremony at the museum is supposed to be open to the public, security permitting. Schwarzenegger is then to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and President Moshe Katsav.
The Austrian actor-turned-politician came to Israel by private jet on his first trip outside the US as governor, at the invitation of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The $200-million center, designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, is expected to be completed in 2007. The museum, which will include a theater complex, conference center, library, gallery and lecture halls, will focus on issues of human dignity and responsibility and seek to promote unity and respect among Jews and between people of all faiths.
Schwarzenegger's visit, which was in doubt just weeks ago due to the tense security situation in the country, coincides with today's Likud referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's "disengagement plan."
Schwarzenegger began the trip ? his third to Israel ? in Tel Aviv, where he attended a gala dinner sponsored by the Israel Export Institute, under the patronage of Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert at the Tel Aviv Hilton hotel, where he spent the night.
This evening, the governor is scheduled speak at a private dinner hosted by museum officials at the King David Hotel.
In a speech earlier this month, Schwarzenegger called the visit, planned over a year ago, "an extraordinary moment for me." The California governor decided to go ahead with the trip despite a national security alert in place, and an updated warning issued by the US State Department on Wednesday urging Americans to delay travel to Israel.
In light of continuing violence in the Middle East, the governor "feels it's critically important to keep his commitment to go to Israel and continue a dialogue about tolerance," spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh had said.
"I think it's a statement of solidarity with the state of Israel," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Wiesenthal center in Los Angeles, who called the visit an "historic occasion." A longtime donor to the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger has contributed more than $1 million to the institute.
An investigation done by the Wiesenthal center at Schwarzenegger's request concluded that his father, a police officer, joined the Nazi Party in January 1941, but found no evidence that he was involved in war crimes.
Schwarzenegger was last in Israel nine years ago for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Planet Hollywood restaurant on Tel Aviv's beachfront.
AP contributed to this report.
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