A contingent of 16 Jewish leaders from nine European countries was expected to arrive Monday in Israel for a three-day solidarity mission.

The mission, led by the president of the European Jewish Congress, Pierre Besnainou, will meet with senior government leaders and will visit areas of the north affected by the Lebanon war.

The delegation is slated to meet with the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Moshe Katzav, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Vice Premier Shimon Peres.

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The group will also visit Kiryat Shmona and Tiberias, two northern cities repeatedly hit by Hezbollah rockets during the Lebanon war, and meet with the mayors and representatives from both cities.