The first Soviet-registered passenger liner to visit Israel since Moscow severed diplomatic relations 23 years ago is due to arrive in Haifa next month.
The 22,000-ton Anatoly Sabinov, on a 35-day cruise that began at the Black Sea port of Odessa, will dock in Haifa from Oct. 5 to 8.
Its 700 passengers from the Soviet Union, reported to include members of the Supreme Soviet, will have three days to tour Israel.
Shipping circles say no Soviet-flag passenger vessel has called at an Israeli port since diplomatic ties were broken in 1967. In that interval, the Soviet Union has entered the booming international cruise market on a large scale.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
