Barack Obama today pledged his "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" after a day of meetings with Israel's most senior leaders and a helicopter flight to a town targeted by rockets from Gaza.Most of the talks on his visit were dominated by the Israeli government's concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- a concern echoed by the Democratic presidential candidate. "A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said.Obama also spoke of his hope for a Middle East peace agreement that would see the creation of a "viable and peaceful Palestinian state" alongside a secure Israel.The Illinois senator travelled in a heavily guarded convoy to Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, where he met the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and prime minister, Salam Fayyad. The one-hour meeting in the Palestinian territories - which came during a 36-hour visit to Israel - still managed to trump his Republican challenger for the White House, John McCain, who spoke to Abbas only by telephone during his trip to Israel in March.
Barack Obama today pledged his "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" after a day of meetings with Israel's most senior leaders and a helicopter flight to a town targeted by rockets from Gaza.
Most of the talks on his visit were dominated by the Israeli government's concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- a concern echoed by the Democratic presidential candidate. "A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said.
Obama also spoke of his hope for a Middle East peace agreement that would see the creation of a "viable and peaceful Palestinian state" alongside a secure Israel.
The Illinois senator travelled in a heavily guarded convoy to Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, where he met the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and prime minister, Salam Fayyad. The one-hour meeting in the Palestinian territories - which came during a 36-hour visit to Israel - still managed to trump his Republican challenger for the White House, John McCain, who spoke to Abbas only by telephone during his trip to Israel in March.
