Israel's Bennett arrives in Egypt in unannounced visit

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) travelled to Egypt on Monday to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Israeli and Emirati media said.

The visits were reported seperately. It is unclear if all three leaders will be meeting together. 

MBZ arrived in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to meet el-Sisi, state news agency WAM reported.

There was no immediate official confirmation of Bennett's visit from either Israel or Egypt. His trip was not previously announced, although an upcoming visit was reported last week.

It is the second trip by the Israeli premier to Egypt in less than six months. His last visit was in September. 

Bennett and Sisi's talks at the time focused on Iran's nuclear programme and support for proxy groups as well as ways to disarm Hamas, the Palestinian movement that governs the Gaza Strip. 

Bennett's predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, was the last Israeli prime minister to make an official visit to Egypt in 2011 during the final days of Hosni Mubarak's presidency.

Monday's visit comes days after Israel announced the inauguration of a new flight route between Ben Gurion Airport and the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The agreement was finalised on Wednesday in Egypt by an Israeli delegation led by the Israeli Security Agency, the prime minister's office said. 

Last week, Bennett pointed to what he described as mounting cooperation between Israel and Egypt, saying closer ties would contribute to regional security.