Brazilian President makes first official visit to Israel

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is on his first official visit to Israel. The trip is part of his Mideast tour aimed at giving the country a larger say in world affairs.

Israel's President Shimon Peres (R) and his Brazilian counterpart  Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2nd R) review an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony on Lula's behalf at Peres' residence in Jerusalem March 15, 2010.REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Israeli president Shimon Peres welcomed Lula in a state ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday. The Brazilian President says he comes for the purposes of peace as well as strengthening bilateral ties between Israel and Brazil. Afterwards he visited the Knesset where he was warmly welcomed.

Lula then met with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials before travelling to the West Bank on Tuesday. He will also meet with Palestinian leaders, and visit Jordan and Iran, in the course of his Mideast trip which comes in his final months as president.