Babiš to visit Israel instead of attending November 17 celebrations

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will miss the November 17 celebrations in Prague next week due to a visit to Israel from November 16 to 18. He said in a statement released on Tuesday that he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss defence cooperation, healthcare and child protection.

Babiš said he regretted missing the commemorations but believed the visit could help ease tensions. Opposition politicians have criticised his decision, coming amid a dispute over the government’s plans to change the funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio.

He will be accompanied by the ministers of defence, foreign affairs, health and sport, as well as the chief of the Czech Army’s General Staff.