Peres to visit the U.S.

Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Aug. 16, 2011. Photo by REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Israeli President Shimon Peres will visit the United States in March.

Peres will leave for the United States on March 1 to attend the annual AIPAC Policy Conference, where the organization will pay tribute to him “in recognition of his life achievements in establishing and strengthening of the State of Israel and in building the strategic relationship with the United States,” according to a statement released by Peres’ office.

Peres, who is scheduled to deliver an address at the opening of the conference, will hold “policy-related meetings” with members of the U.S. administration.

He also is scheduled to pay a working visit to Silicon Valley and hold “marathon meetings” with the heads of leading global high-tech companies, where he will ask them to establish and expand the activities of their research and development centers, and other branches in Israel, according to the president’s office.

Peres also will meet with Jewish community leaders to “present to them the new vision he is formulating regarding relations between the State of Israel and Diaspora Jewry,” and with “leading opinion shapers, including media representatives and heads of the American film industry,” in order to “advance Israel’s international public diplomacy,” the statement said.