French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has begun a visit to Israel, that has already been marred by controversy, by offering French troops to help bolster Middle East peace efforts.

"France is willing to ensure a future peace accord between Israel and its neighbours by deploying troops on the ground," Mr Jospin said, noting that French forces already played peacekeeping and monitoring roles in the region.

Correspondents say Mr Jospin's comments appeared to relate to Israeli plans to withdraw from occupied south Lebanon before a self-imposed July deadline.

He held talks with Prime Minister Ehud Barak late on Wednesday in a meeting that was not on his official programme, according to a French official.

The visit comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, following deadlock on all peace tracks and Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in retaliation for the killing of seven soldiers in the Israeli-occupied strip there.

Earlier, Mr Jospin laid a wreath at the grave of assassinated premier Yitzhak Rabin.

"Yitzhak Rabin was one of those who understood that yesterday's enemies must first reconcile, and then negotiate and learn to work together, while respecting one another as nations or states," he said.

Faux pas

Mr Jospin's visit to Israel was marred, even before it began, by a succession of diplomatic spats and blunders.

Israel first committed the embarrassing faux pas of decorating the streets with the tri-coloured flag of the Netherlands, which has horizontal stripes, rather than that of France, which has vertical stripes.

Workmen had to work late into the night to correct the mistake ahead of Mr Jospin's arrival on Wednesday.

Then the Israeli foreign ministry issued a blistering attack on the French for failing to make any mention in its schedule of Jerusalem as the location of the Israeli leg of Mr Jospin's visit.

"It's a disgusting negligence," Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy said.

In contrast, the programme clearly stated that his planned meeting with the Palestinian official responsible for East Jerusalem, Faisal Husseini, would be held in the city.

Israeli sensitivity

The criticism reflects Israel's sensitivity about its designation of Jerusalem as its capital, a status that France, like most other countries, rejects.

The eastern part of the city was captured and annexed by Israel in 1967 and the Palestinians want it for their future capital.

The French said the discrepancy was an error. As far as Israeli officials were concerned, it looked more like a snub.

"There are officials in various foreign ministries around the world who deliberately act to cause harm and then say later it was just a mistake," Mr Levy said.

The international consensus holds that the status of the Israeli-occupied parts of Jerusalem is a matter for negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr Jospin's four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories is intended to boost trade and strengthen France's sometimes strained relations with Israel.

Later in the week, he will meet Palestinians leaders, including Mr Husseini and the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat.