President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday laid claim to a pivotal diplomatic role for France in the Middle East, suggesting to the Israeli parliament that he was willing to deploy troops to underpin a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

In a speech to the Knesset, the first by a French president in 26 years, Mr Sarkozy said: “France is ready to provide its guarantee, ready to mobilise its diplomatic service, its resources, its soldiers. You can trust France.”