CROATIAN PILGRIMS TO LEAVE FOR ISRAEL

( Editorial: --> 7124 ) ZAGREB, Oct 31 (Hina) - About 50 members of the Croatian-Israeli Society and their friends are on Saturday to leave for a week's visit to Israel. This is the first organised visit to Israel after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, head of the Croatian-Israeli Society, Mihael Montiljo, said on Friday. With the help of the Vienna-based Israeli Ambassador, Yoel Sher, a visit to the institute in Rehovot has been organised. The institute is one of the five biggest science centres in the world and is interested in cooperating with Croatia's "Rudjer Boskovic" institute. With the establishment of air traffic communication between Tel Aviv and Dubrovnik, over 4,000 Israeli tourists visited Croatia this year, and the upcoming opening of embassies will further contribute to the improvement of tourist relations between the two countries. Montiljo added that the Croatian-Israeli Society would organise such pilgrimages to Israel twice every year, in spring and autumn. (hina) lm 310938 MET oct 97