Antony said no to Israel request for a visit by Ehud Barak
In a rebuff prompted by domestic political concerns, India turned down an Israeli request for an official visit by its high-profile Defence Minister Ehud Barak during the Defexpo last month. Tel Aviv felt that the event provided the right forum for a political visit to showcase the growing defence partnership. But sources said the Defence Ministry — the organiser of Defexpo — took the line that inviting Israeli political leaders to the event could raise a controversy.