At the start of his first official visit to Israel, US President Barack Obama pledged unwavering commitment to the security of the Jewish state.
Arriving at Tel Aviv airport Mr Obama briefly embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has notoriously testy ties, before offering smiles and handshakes to waiting ranks of ministers.
"I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate America's unwavering commitment to Israel's security and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbours," he said at a welcoming ceremony.
He also stressed the need for Middle East peace at the start of a three-day visit, during which he will meet with with Mr Netanyahu and and Palestinian leaders.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Netanyahu cited an Israeli right to self-defence, which he said Obama supported.
Concern over a nuclear-armed Iran has clouded US-Israeli relations, Reuters reports.
Mr Obama faces strong doubts among Israelis over his pledge to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and concerns that the civil war in neighbouring Syria might spill over the border, with Western powers reluctant to get involved.
The US president said last week he believed Iran was still more than a year away from developing an atomic weapon and is counselling nervous Israelis to show patience, vowing to use all options to stop a nuclear-armed Tehran.
