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Farrakhan notified the Israeli Embassy in Washington Monday that he planned to visit Israel in January as part of a three-month international tour of 52 nations including Syria, Iraq, Libya and Cuba.

Farrakhan, who has often sparked controversy with his anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, announced Sunday that he wants to advance the Middle East peace process.

"I want to be a voice for peace," he said during a CNN interview. "I don't think that the politicians of the region are doing their utmost for peace."

Farrakhan said in the interview that he was not sure Israel would be willing to host him.

"My image there is terrible," he said.