US Vice President Joe Biden has assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel has Washington’s unstinting support for its security and repeated US intent to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
‘There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel's security,’ Mr Biden said as the two leaders made statements to the media following talks in Jerusalem.
This was a message Mr Biden had been widely expected to bring in person from President Barack Obama.
Israeli political sources have said he is also making clear Washington does not want Israel to risk any military action against Iran while the US is seeking a wide coalition for sanctions on Tehran.
Mr Netanyahu said Israel's security priorities were ensuring Iran did not build nuclear weapons and establishing peace with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbours.
‘I very much appreciate the efforts of President Obama and the American government to lead the international community to place tough sanctions on Iran,’ he said.
‘The stronger those sanctions are, the more likely it will be that the Iranian regime will have to chose between advancing its nuclear programme and advancing the future of its own permanence.’
Mr Biden said he welcomed Mr Netanyahu's move this week to begin US-mediated indirect talks with the Palestinians and said he hoped it would lead to direct negotiations that would produce a historic peace treaty.
Mr Biden is due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tomorrow.
