The United States stands with Israel because it is in its "fundamental national security interest" to do so, US President Barack Obama said Wednesday, as he arrived for a 51-hour visit to the Jewish state and the Palestinian territories, dpa reported.
"We stand together because peace must come to the Holy Land," he added, as he spoke at an airport welcoming ceremony.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, as he welcomed the US chief executive, that "the need of our alliance is greater than ever" and was "a key to achieve a stable and secure peace."