Violence delays gov’s Israel trip

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo has put his plans to visit Israel on hold because of the violent protests taking place along the Gaza border.

Cuomo, who was initially scheduled to leave for Israel on Tuesday evening, announced just hours before he was planning to depart that he would wait for the Palestinian protests to abate before making the trip.

“Israel is now engaged on multiple fronts, including significant hostility and loss of life on the Gaza border,” Cuomo press secretary Dani Lever said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and will visit in the coming weeks when the active on-the-ground conflict abates and Gov. Cuomo can visit both the Golan Heights area and the Gaza border.”

Nearly 60 people were killed in the protests Monday.

Cuomo announced plans for the trip last week after Iranian forces launched missiles at Israeli positions in the Golan Heights. At the time, Cuomo said, “I believe you show friendship when times are tough.”