Egypt´s president meets Israeli PM

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-12-2009 08:51

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Cairo to seek Egypt's help in building a coalition of Arab nations against Iran.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) shakes hands with  Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a news  conference in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh May 11, 2009. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

The Israeli leader has sought to redirect the Middle East agenda by focusing on Iran as the key threat to regional stability. Without explicitly mentioning Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu made an argument that the Jewish state and moderate Arab nations share a common threat.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak did not respond to that theme at the news conference, speaking instead of the need to forge ahead with Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. President Mubarak said peace with the Palestinians will bring stability and reinforce cooperation in the region.

But Prime Minister Netanyahu made no endorsement of Palestinian statehood, though he said he hoped to renew peace talks in the weeks ahead, requesting Egypt's help in that area as well.

Editor:Zhang Ning