But she was not able to confirm Israeli press reports that the minister was also slated to meet his French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie during the trip.

The reports said Mofaz would be staying in France for just 24 hours.

He was due to fly to Paris a few days earlier to attend the show but delayed his trip because of the security situation in Israel, public radio said.

The week-long 45th Paris Air Show was opened on Saturday by French President Jacques Chirac.

WAR.WIRE