French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is to begin a three-day visit to Israel on Sunday, will meet with Noam and Aviva Shalit, parents of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who is a French citizen. The family has petitioned the High Court to cancel the recent temporary peace between the government and Hamas because it does not include the soldier's release, despite promises by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he would not close a deal without providing for Shalit's return.
President Sarkozy will be greeted by President Shimon Peres and will tour Masada and the Dead Sea area by helicopter before a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Olmert.