Israeli President Shimon Peres arrived on Monday in Spain for a four-day visit as a guest of King Juan Carlos I in order to mark 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Spain.
During the trip, Peres will meet the King and was to hold talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez, the head of the opposition Mariano Rajoy and the president of the Congress of Deputies Jose Bono Martinez. The visit is aimed at strengthening and expanding strategic, diplomatic, and economic relations between Israel and Spain.
Peres, who will be accompanied by a delegation of businesspeople from leading Israeli companies as well as the heads of Israel's security industry, will also deliver a major speech to a special session of the Spanish Congress of Deputies or Parliament.
"The president is expected to discuss with his hosts the dramatic events that have taken place recently in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear threat, their attempts to strengthen terror organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, and to dominate the Middle East," a statement from his office said.
Another goal of the visit is "to strengthen relations between Israel and
the European Union and increase cooperation between the two countries," it said.
The Israeli president will be accompanied by a 40-strong delegation of senior business leaders, many of them from security and defence giants such asIsraeli Military Industries (IMI), Rafael, Aeronautics, Aironotics, RAD Data Communications, RADcom, Nandongene, Almotech, Keter Plastic, and IDE Technologies.
At the beginning of the visit, the president will participate in a ceremony at the main synagogue of Madrid with hundreds of members of the Spanish-Jewish community.
He will also participate in a series of events and ceremonies including an official state welcoming reception at Madrid's airport, the dedication of the Israel-Spain House, the joint center for Israel and Spain marking 25 years of diplomatic relations, and the presentation of the key to the city of Madrid in the Municipal Palace.
During the visit a special emphasis will be placed on promoting Israel amongst the Spanish public. The President will conduct a series of interviews for the Spanish media, give background press briefings for senior media editors, and conduct a press conference with the Spanish Prime Minister. He will also deliver a special diplomatic address in front of hundreds of public officials, opinion leaders and students.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jimenez made her first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories since being appointed foreign minister in October last year, in a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were first established in January 1986 after centuries of hostility following the publication of a royal order expelling the Jews from Spain in 1492. It is Shimon Peres who signed the establishment of the relations 25 years ago with then Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzales.
The edict of expulsion was formally nullified 500 years later at an
official ceremony in March 1992 which was attended by the Spanish king and then Israeli president Haim Herzog.