WASHINGTON (JTA) — Former President George W. Bush canceled a planned appearance at a Keren Hayesod fundraiser in Geneva because of planned protests.
Bush was to be the featured speaker at a Feb. 12 dinner for the group, the daily Le Tribune de Geneve reported on Feb. 5.
Keren Hayesod, also known as the United Israel Appeal, said reports that some groups planned to call for Bush’s arrest as a war criminal were not a factor; Switzerland had promised him immunity.
"We didn’t want to put people and property in Geneva at risk," Robert Equey, the group’s lawyer, told Le Tribune de Geneve.
Bush reportedly charges $150,000 to speak. Past Keren Hayesod Geneva speakers have included Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Rudolph Giuliani.
