Couillard hoping trip to Israel will lead to increased economic ties

JERUSALEM Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard says he hopes his current trip to Israel will lead to increased economic ties between the province and the Middle Eastern country.

Couillard arrived in Tel Aviv Friday and visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to victims of the Holocaust. He then headed to Jerusalem and met with Deborah Lyons, the Canadian ambassador to Israel.

Couillard is expected to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday before sitting down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

More than 100 people, including entrepreneurs, heads of research institutes and university leaders are accompanying Couillard.