Obama affirms strong US-Israel ties

President Barack Obama has said on the Jewish state's 62nd anniversary that the United States shares an "unbreakable bond" with Israel and he was confident the relationship "will only be strengthened" into the future.
Despite tensions between Obama and the government of hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US leader stressed that he looks "forward to continuing our efforts with Israel to achieve comprehensive peace and security in the region, including a two-state solution."
On the anniversary, Obama said in a statement released by the White House that "we once again honour the extraordinary achievements of the people of Israel, and their deep and abiding friendship with the American people."
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday poured cold water on the notion of any dramatic new US peace plan, as speculation mounted over Washington's next move in the Middle East impasse.
Netanyahu, in an interview with ABC television, argued that Israelis and Palestinians would have to negotiate towards a final settlement, not work off a new document defining the eventual parameters for a Palestinian state.
"I don't believe anyone will seriously think that you can impose peace. Peace has to come from the parties sitting down with each other, resolving their differences," said Netanyahu.