Vice President Spiro Agnew will not visit Israel on his way back from Korea, though he plans to stop for two days in Saudi Arabia and two in Kuwait. The State Department characterized his visit to those Arab countries as an “official” one but declined to comment on reasons why Israel was being skipped. The Vice Presidential office in Washington said that it could not preclude last minute changes in the itinerary which was being arranged from the Vice Presidential traveling headquarters in the Far East. The office explained that the stops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were “good will” stops to give Agnew an opportunity to personally convey the regards of President Nixon to the heads of state. Published reports attribute the Agnew visit to Saudi Arabia to the recent visit to Washington of King Faisal and his invitation for a high American official to return the call. Israeli Embassy officials here said that the Vice President was extended an open invitation during his talks with Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin about six months ago to visit Israel, but that no reply or further inquiries had been received.
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