JERUSALEM
By Anees Barghouthy
Iran's nuclear file and economic cooperation will figure high on the agenda of French President Francois Hollande who is expected to arrive in Israel later Sunday, Israeli analysts believe.
"In terms of priority, this visit will discuss the Iranian nuclear file with an Israeli attempt to marginalize the Palestinian file," Israeli analyst Yossi Nesher told Anadolu Agency.
Hollande, accompanied by six government ministers, will arrive in Israel later Sunday on his first official visit as president.
During his three-day stay, he will hold talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The French leader is also expected meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to push for peace talks with Israel.
But Iran remains the main focus of Hollande's visit which runs until Tuesday.
"The visit reflects the crystallization of an international camp against the expected agreement in Geneva between Tehran and the West," Nesher suggested.
"[But] Israel and Paris realize that it is a partial agreement which will be signed regardless of the Israeli-French moves," he added.
Netanyahu said he was waiting "impatiently" for Hollande lauding him as "a close friend of Israel."
"Israel salutes Hollande’s firm stance on the Iranian issue," he told French daily Le Figaro.
Peres, for his part, has paid tribute to the French position regarding Iran in the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and six world powers concerning Tehran's nuclear program.
France has been blamed for blocking an agreement between Iran and the six world powers during recent meeting.
-Power Shift
Israeli analyst Eli Nysan said Hollande's visit aims to "consolidate political and economic relations between the two states."
He expected the French leader to try reviving France's economic and trade relations which, according to Paris, is as important as political relations.
The French leader is expected to attend on Tuesday a conference on French-Israeli economic cooperation with the participation of more than 200 French and Israeli companies.
Hollande's trip and the Russian foreign and defense ministers' visit to Cairo reflect attempts by some major powers in the region to benefit from a perceived decline in Washington's position in the Middle East and tensions with its main regional allies; Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
"There is a decline of the US position in the region and France wants to restore its influence in the region," Nysan told AA.
"Hollande’s speech in the Israeli Knesset will determine the future policy of France in the region," he suggested.
The French president is expected to push for the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
He is expected to meet Abbas Monday to push the peace process forward.
Hamas, for its part, has criticized Hollande’s visit.
"The visit of the French president is unwelcomed," said Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil.
He suggested that the visit would encourage Israel to continue with its controversial settlement building activities and attempts to Judaize the occupied holy city of Jerusalem.
A poll conducted by Ivob Institute and published by the Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper shows that Hollande's popularity has declined to only 20 percent, the lowest level for any French leader since the foundation of the fifth Republic in 1958.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
