PARIS, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in France late Tuesday for a three-day visit aimed at turning a new leaf in Israeli-French ties after years of tension.

    

French Minister for Small and Medium-Size Businesses Renaud Dutreil (L) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport July 26, 2005.  (Xinhua/AFP photo)

This visit is the first by Sharon since he met with French President Jacques Chirac in July 2001.

    The Israeli prime minister is expected to meet with Chirac on Wednesday for talks, followed by a working lunch. He will also meet with Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and hold meetings with Jewish leaders before returning home Friday.

¡¡ ¡¡"Our relations with France are strengthening at every level, notably commercially," Sharon told French daily Le Monde in an article published Tuesday.

    He praised efforts by Chirac and the French government "to fight anti-Semitism", which should "serve as an example for other European countries."

    The two countries put aside the controversy provoked by Sharon's declaration in July 2004 encouraging French Jews to leave France and emigrate "immediately" to Israel.

    Chirac reacted strongly, declaring that the Israeli prime minister was not welcome in Paris until he explained his remarks.

    In an interview with Le Monde, Sharon reiterated his call for Jews to emigrate to Israel. "I am not only inviting Jews from France to come but Jews around the world."

    Chirac invited Sharon to come to Paris to discuss the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip scheduled for mid-August and consolidate the French-Israeli "partnership."

    When he issued the invitation last month, Chirac praised Sharon's "determined and courageous decision" to withdraw from Gaza, a step Paris sees as a strong move toward reviving talks on peace and Palestinian statehood.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, center, with French government member Renaud Dutreil second left, stand at attention during the National anthem ceremony at his arrival at Paris Orly airport, Tuesday July 26, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    Sharon has said that the withdrawal, which will begin in three weeks, is only a "preliminary step" before the implementation of the roadmap peace plan, an international blueprint aimed at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

    The Israeli prime minister warned that little progress could bemade unless Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas takes tougher action to stop "terrorism."

    "To enter completely in the (roadmap) plan, there has to be a total halt to terrorism, confiscation of weapons and the dismantling of terrorist organizations. ... I have yet to see serious action on (Abbas') part against terrorism. He is satisfied with small measures. It is a shame," Sharon told Le Monde.

    Israel was also pleased with French pressure on Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. Sharon will urge Paris to step up pressure for the disarmament of Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerrillas, analysts said.

    Israeli ambassador to Paris Nissim Zvili said in an interview aired on Europe 1 radio that Sharon's visit is the natural result of a very tangible improvement in relations over the last month.

    "There's a new openness and trust between our two governments,"said Zvili.     Enditem