French President arrives in Israel to discuss Iran

French President Francois Hollande arrived in Israel with a delegation including seven ministers and 200 officials on Sunday. Paying an official visit to Israel after the inconclusive talks over Iranian nuclear programme in Geneva between Tehran and UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany (P5+1), the French President Hollande was welcomed by Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.  Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made a statement during welcoming, saying "Israel sees France as a true friend. France, like Israel, aspires for a stable Middle East that lives in peace and security."  Praising France's attitude during the talks in Geneva, Netanyahu said a determined attitude was adopted on Syria and Iranian nuclear weapons issues which were threatening Middle East, France, all Europe and the world as well as Israel.  

Meanwhile, the French President was accompanied by seven ministers and about 200 people including mostly journalists and businessmen during his first official visit to Israel after taking office as president. 

The French and Israeli presidents went to presidential palace in Jerusalem following their landing. Here, Hollande will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial institute after a state ceremony. 

Hollande will deliver a speech at Knesset (Israeli parliament) on Monday and visit the graves of the victims of a March 2012 terrorist attack on a French Jewish school on Tuesday.

During his visit, Hollande will move to West Bank and lay a wreath at the mausoleum of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

The French president will also meet with the President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.