Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is in Israel and will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, his first of a series of meetings and events of a three-day visit to the Middle East which will include a stop in Palestine.

The meeting in Jerusalem will focus on relations between the two countries, EU-Israeli relations and the Middle East peace process.

Dr Muscat will also meet Israeli President Shimon Peres and then cross into Palestinian territory for talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the Ramallah.

The Prime Minister on Monday received a telephone call from former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who heads the Quartet tasked with handling the peace process.

Dr Muscat leads a delegation that includes Foreign Minister George Vella and Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella.

A delegation from Malta Enterprise and a number of businessmen are accompanying the head of government.

Dr Muscat is the first Maltese Prime Minister to visit Israel. An earlier visit by Lawrence Gonzi was cancelled because of the uprising in Libya two years ago.