Swiss President cancels visit to Hebron

Switzerland's president, who started an official visit to Israel on Sunday canceled at the last moment on Monday a planned visit to Hebron.

Spokeswoman for the Swiss president, Yasmin Shatela, said the Swiss president "canceled the visit because Israeli and Palestinian security officials refused to ensure him security guarantees."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that the Israeli security officials told the Swiss President they do not want to run the responsibility of his security in light of daily confrontations between the Israeli and Palestinian forces taking place in the city.

The Swiss President, however, visited Ramallah instead of Hebron and met with Palestinian Minister of Higher Education Hanan Ashrawi. The Swiss President will visit a Palestinian refugee camp near Ramallah in the West Bank.