U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjiamin Netanyahu here Monday evening to discuss the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Iran's controversial nuclear program, changes in Egypt's politics and the ongoing Syrian crisis.

"I look forward to hearing of your impressions from Egypt. That has been an anchor of peace and maintaining the peace treaty between us, I think, is something that is uppermost in both our minds, and I appreciate the efforts that you're investing to this end," said Netanyahu in a statement prior to his meeting with Clinton.

The Israeli premier was referring to Clinton's visit to Egypt, where she met with newly-elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Israel has been concerned over the drastic changes in Egypt's political landscape, fearing that the new Egyptian government could scrap the peace treaty between the two countries.

"We're going to talk about the Palestinians. That is also an anchor of peace, and we have to invest every effort to maintain it, to keep the tranquility and see if we can move the process forward, " Netanyahu said.

"We have our common effort to make sure that Iran will not achieve its ambition of developing nuclear weapons," he added, repeating Israel's accusations that Tehran is seeking nuclear arms.

For her part, Clinton stressed cooperation and coordination between the U.S. and Israeli governments.

"We're living in a time of unprecedented changes with a lot of challenges for us both, and we will continue to consult closely as we have on an almost daily basis between our two governments to chart the best way forward for peace and stability, for Israel, the United States, the region and the world," she said.

Earlier in the day, Clinton, who landed in Israel late Sunday, held an hour-long meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

During the meeting, Clinton characterized the turmoil affecting the region as "a time of uncertainty, but also opportunity."

Clinton said the current period "is a chance to advance our shared goals of security, stability, peace and democracy -- along with prosperity, for the millions of people in this region who have yet to see a better future."

Turning to bilateral relations with Israel, she added that "it is at moments like these that friends like us have to think together, act together," possibly alluding to U.S. concerns over a potential independent Israeli attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Peres told Clinton that "Israel is very interested in keeping peace with our neighbors, especially with Egypt." The president said Israel "respect(s) the results of the elections and try and will continue to build the peace between us and Egypt."

On the stalled peace talks with the Palestinians, Peres said that "the Palestinian do not have a better alternative. We don't have a better alternative," adding that both sides have come far in working towards peace.

"For the last 30 years, the fact that there was peace between us and Egypt saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people in Egypt and in Israel," he stressed.

Some political analysts in Israel and the United States have speculated that Clinton's first visit to Israel since September 2010 is also aimed at boosting U.S. President Barack Obama's slipping prestige among undecided American Jewish voters.

Pollsters have reported Republican inroads among American Jews, focusing on expressed concerns that Obama and his advisors are gradually distancing U.S. policy from traditional perceived support for Israel.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet