Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Wednesday at Tel Aviv international airport for the first ever visit to Israel by a Kremlin leader.
Putin was expected to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Katsav on Thursday before heading to the West Bank town of Ramallah for a meeting on Friday with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
Putin flew in from Cairo where he had earlier announced plans for a international Middle East conference.
Russia is one of the four international sponsors of the troubled roadmap peace plan which targets the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.