Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Israel early Sunday as he begins his first visit to the Middle East.

Mr. Harper, his wife Laureen and a sizeable entourage arrived in Tel Aviv where they were greeted by Israel’s foreign affairs minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Canada’s ambassador-designate to Israel, Vivian Bercovici.

Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Mr. Harper, and thanked him for his strong support of the Jewish State and its people.

On Monday Mr. Harper will become the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament.

Later in the week he will visit the West Bank and Jordan.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by cabinet ministers, business people, cultural leaders and religious representatives.