The two were expected to discuss "bilateral cooperation in the Middle East", a defence ministry spokeswoman told AFP late Sunday, without giving further details.

Mofaz will leave for Paris Monday where he will attend the Paris Air Show which opened over the weekend.

He is expected to meet with Alliot-Marie on Tuesday morning before returning to Israel, the spokeswoman said.

The minister 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