SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez will head to the Middle East Friday, in an official visit to Israel and to participate in the 15th Summit of Non-Aligned Countries (NOAL), to be held this year in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt.

The chief executive will depart Friday morning to New York, where he’ll board a commercial flight to France, to sign a cooperation agreement with UNESCO, and from there to Israel on Sunday, for the start of the official visit to last until Tuesday.

On Monday Fernandez will be received by Israel prime minister Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv, where he’ll visit the Holocaust Museum to lay a wreath, among other ceremonies, and visit the Knesset in the afternoon.

On Tuesday Fernandez will visit the community Hadera to observe an electrical complex and the kibbutz Shefayim, to learn of the Israelite community’s farming experience. He’ll return to Tel Aviv In the afternoon, to meet with Israeli industrialists interested in investing in the country, including its advantages and businesses opportunities.

After the official visit the chief executive will fly Wednesday to Egypt for the Summit of Government and Heads of State, from July 15 to 17.

Egypt president Hosni Mubarak will receive him on Thursday, for the start of the Summit’s work sessions until.

Fernandez will then fly to Cairo, where he was invited by The American University for a gathering of academicians and students and will also visit the Political and Strategic Training Center El Ahram, where he’ll meet with Egyptian intellectuals, politicians, researchers and sociologists interested in cultural bonds with the Caribbean nation.

Fernandez will fly aboard a commercial flight to London on Saturday, July 18 and return to New York for the return flight that will bring from return to the country Sunday, July 19.

His delegation includes the first lady Margarita Cedeño, Chie of staff Cesar Pina Toribio, Administrative minister Luis Manuel Bonetti, the Press director Rafael Núñez, among others.