JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi met in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss economic cooperation and regional threats.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying the two officials "discussed bilateral cooperation in technology, innovation and industry."

They also discussed the East Med natural gas pipeline that is due to export Israeli gas via Cyprus and Greece to other countries in Europe.

The prime minister told his guest that "Iran has been attempting to establish a permanent militarily foothold in Syria and its actions undermine the stability in the Middle East."

The Italian foreign minister met also with Israel's President Reuven Rivlin, telling him that Italy sees great importance to the relations between the two countries and that he would be happy to see them become even deeper.

The East Med pipeline is expected to facilitate the export of natural gas from Israel through Cyprus and Greece to the rest of Europe. The gas would come from a gigantic natural gas reservoir called Leviathan, which was discovered off Israel's Mediterranean coast nine years ago.