Israeli prime minister cuts short visit to North America amid flotilla raid crisis

more images

more images

Israeli PM shortens Canada trip, cancels US visit

TORONTO — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was cutting short a North American visit Monday to return home to handle a crisis over a deadly Israeli raid on pro-Palestinian activists’ Gaza aid flotilla.

Netanyahu met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa on Monday, but a joint press conference planned for afterward was canceled, said Harper spokesman Dimitri Soudas. The Israeli leader also will miss a reception that Harper was to hold in his honor in the evening.

Netanyahu scrapped his planned visit Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington.

At least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli commandos attacked ships taking humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip early Monday.

Canada is among Israel’s staunchest allies.