At leats 6,300 police officers and other security forces were deployed to Jerusalem ahead of the arrival of high-profile dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and m 49 countries, including 41 heads of state, the diplomatic event is set to become the biggest in the country's history.
The two-day event, which includes political meetings between world and Israeli leaders where discussions are expected to be held on the latest Iran tensions and the Mideast peace process, culminating in commemorations ceremony at Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum on Thursday afternoon.
At least 6,300 police officers and other security forces were deployed to Jerusalem to ensure the 48-hour even, which includes high-profile dignitaries such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Prince Charles, goes smoothly.
Emmanuel Macron, who arrived on Tuesday shortly before midnight, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in the morning hours.
The prime minister during the meeting urged the French leader to join the United States and Israel in putting pressure on Iran to stop its “aggressive nuclear activity.”
Macron replied that France will be "inflexible" about Iran's nuclear ambitions and that his country is determined Tehran will never acquire nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu later said the two have agreed to “establish a strategic dialogue” between the two countries in an effort to advance common interests.
Macron was to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank shortly after 4 pm.
Rivlin is set to host the delegations at his Jerusalem residence on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, Putin is scheduled to inaugurate a memorial in honor of the victims of the Siege of Leningrad - a prolonged blockade of the Soviet city by the Nazi forces - at Jerusalem’s Sacher Park.
The ceremony will be attended by World War II veterans and survivors of the siege living in Israel. A delegation of at least 600 people, mostly from Russia, is expected to arrive in Israel for the ceremony.
This year’s event, titled, “Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism,” is organized by World Holocaust Forum in cooperation with Yad Vashem and President Reuven Rivlin.