Obama to Israel: our alliance is eternal

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Israel for his first trip there as president, saying the U.S. was proud to stand by Israel as its strongest ally, BBC News reported.

After landing in Tel Aviv, Obama also referred to the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying "peace must come to the Holy Land".

U.S. officials have tried to lower expectations of any significant headway on restarting the peace process.

Syria, and Iran's nuclear ambitions are expected to loom large in talks.

Obama was welcomed at Ben Gurion airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Shimon Peres.

After being introduced to Israeli ministers and dignitaries, Obama said the U.S. would "never lose sight of an Israel at peace with its neighbors". He added: "The United States stands with Israel because it is in our fundamental security interests to stand with Israel. Our alliance is eternal. It is forever."

Netanyahu said, for his part: "Thank you for defending Israel's right to unequivocally defend its right to exist."

Obama is due to hold separate talks with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his three-day visit.