Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt's Red Sea resort city, on May 11, 2009. Netanyahu arrived here Monday noon for his first foreign visit since taking office in late March. [Xinhua]

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday that the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Egypt is "very important", local media reported.

Barak's made the remarks while Netanyahu was heading Monday for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, on the backdrop of common interests in the battle for the future of the Middle East and disagreements on the nature of relations with the Palestinians.

"Egypt, headed by President Mubarak, is a stabilizing, responsible and serious element within a very stormy Mideast reality," Barak was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying.

"We have valuable strategic matters which must be discussed and are related to the chance to achieve stability, peace and cooperation across the entire region," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday noon for his first foreign visit since taking office on March 31.

Israeli government sources said the talks between the two leaders would deal with the whole range of pressing regional issues, including Iran issue, the Palestinian reconciliation talks and Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured three years ago by Palestinian militants.

It was reported that the prime minister will also meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Wednesday or on Friday morning, ahead of a planned meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington next week.

Local experts believed that Netanyahu's diplomatic activities are aimed to look for Arab ally against Iran.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2009)