Le Parisien, citing an unidentified presidential official, said on its website Sarkozy might also visit Egypt and Syria.

Sarkozy's office declined to comment on the report.

The French president is due to make a long-planned visit to Lebanon on Jan. 6, but a member of his staff indicated earlier this week that he was considering travelling to other countries in the region following the Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is scheduled to meet Sarkozy in Paris on Thursday.

France, which relinquishes the European Union presidency at midnight on Wednesday, has so far failed in its efforts to negotiate a 48-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel launched strikes against Gaza five days ago in retaliation for rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled territory and has appeared to step up preparations for a possible ground offensive against Hamas.

Le Parisien said Sarkozy would meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli leaders on Monday and Tuesday. He was also considering seeing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. -Reuters