ISRO to launch Israeli space telescope

Israel may reopen its Mumbai consulate that was closed in July due to financial constraints but said they were not in a hurry as missions cannot be opened and closed abruptly.

"We do not want to hurry through with it as missions cannot be opened and closed abruptly," a foreign official said here without suggesting a definite time.

He said there had been several demands from the Indian Jewish community and merchants doing business with Israel and other various groups to reopen the consulate.

Chairperson of the Indo-Israel Cultural Association Roley Horowitz said that the association had met foreign ministry officials as well as Indian officials at the embassy in Tel Aviv requesting them to facilitate the reopening given the difficulties faced by the Indian Jews and their relatives.

The Central Organisation of Indian Jews and the Indian merchant community in Israel, mostly hailing from Mumbai and Gujarat, have also put up a request with the ministry to this effect.

Jerusalem, December 29, 2003 (UNI)