Egyptian Defense Minister Abdul Fatah al-Sisi spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak, on the phone Wednesday, and stressed that Cairo is committed to the peace treaty with Israel, according to an Arabic newspaper.

The paper, Al Hayat, which is published in London, cites senior Egyptian sources as saying that there are understandings between Israel and Egypt regarding the means of dealing with the security problems in Sinai.

Al-Sisi reportedly spoke to Barak as he was preparing to meet President Mohammed Morsi. He then informed Morsi of Israel's concerns.

The phone conversation between Barak and Sisi was the first high level conversation between the two countries "in a long time," according to IDF Radio. The Defense Ministry preferred not to comment on the matter.