On Sunday, Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Tariq al-Mulla visited Israel for negotiations to improve bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, the Israeli newspaper reported. This is the first time an Egyptian minister paid visit to Israel in the last five years. Based on the report, al-Mulla will come together with Israeli energy officials and representatives from energy companies to discuss the possible means to bolster cooperation, particularly in the field of natural gas extraction.
It is also expected that the Egyptian Minister will meet top Israeli officials President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. It is speculated in the Israeli media that al-Mulla will visit the Leviathan gas field in the Mediterranean.
An Egyptian newspaper, on the other hand, reported that the Minister is expected to arrive in Ramallah to negotiate with Palestinian officials. However, no comment was made by the Egyptian authorities over the report. Last year in January, within the scope of agreements inked with Israel to import 85 billion cubic meters over the next 15 years, Egypt started to import Israeli gas.
