President of Fiji forced to land in Eilat

27 October 2016, 9:42 pm

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An aircraft carrying the President of Fiji George Konrote is forced to land in Eilat today due to severe weather, Ynet says.

Konrote was en route to the Sinai in Egypt to visit Fijian peace keepers who are stationed there as part of an international peacekeeping force. He was taken to a hotel in the resort city, Ynet says.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) reacts as she greets Fiji's President, George Konrote (L), during an audience at Buckingham Palace, in central London on October 13, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / POOL / Jonathan Brady) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (R) reacts as she greets Fiji’s President, George Konrote (L), during an audience at Buckingham Palace, in central London on October 13, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / POOL / Jonathan Brady)

The region is experiencing the first winter rains, which are accompanied by severe sandstorms in southern Israel and the Sinai.

The South Pacific nation has stationed peacekeepers in Egypt since 1982 after the signing of the Israel-Egypt peace accords, with the latest group of a little over 300 beginning a planned one-year rotation in February. However, it recently brought home about 65 due to increasing violence between Egypt’s armed forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State group.