ISRAEL will have “no greater friend” than the US in pursuit of peace in the Middle East, Barack Obama promised yesterday.

On his first visit to Israel as president, America’s leader described the two nations’ alliance as “eternal”.

He signed the guest book at the residence of President Shimon Peres and told him: “The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally.”

Peres replied: “Peace is not only a wish, but a possibility.”

Later, Mr Obama told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu the US would work with Israel to stop Iran obtaining nukes, “the world’s worst weapons”. If diplomacy fails “all options are on the table”, said Mr Obama.

Mr Netanyahu said diplomacy must be backed by “a clear and credible threat of military action”.

Mr Obama also pledged to investigate whether chemical weapons were used this week in neighbouring Syria’s two-year-old civil war.

Source: UKSUN