Obama to meet Netanyahu today

US President Barack Obama will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss Iran's nuclear programme and how to deal with it.

"The meeting will be an opportunity for the President to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and to discuss a range of strategic issues of mutual concern," the White House said Sunday.

Ahead of the meeting, Obama yesterday reiterated his commitment to Israeli security.
"Whenever an effort is made to de-legitimize the state of Israel, my administration has opposed them. So there should not be a shred of doubt by now: when the chips are down, I have Israel’s back," Obama said in his address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Netanyahu appreciated Obama's remarks."I heard president Obama's speech and I appreciate the fact that he repeated his position that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and that all options are on the table.

"I also appreciate the fact that he said that on the Iranian issue, containment is not an option. But most of all, I appreciate that he said that Israel must be able to defend itself against any threat," Netanyahu said at the same conference later in the day.

"We are bound to Israel because of the interests that we share -- in security for our communities, prosperity for our people, the new frontiers of science that can light the world. But ultimately it is our common ideals that provide the true foundation for our relationship," Obama said.