国际英语新闻：Obama meets Israeli defense minister amid tensions over Jewish settlement activities

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Amid tensions over Jewish settlement activities, U.S. President Barrack Obama met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday at the White House, reaffirming U.S. "unshakeable" commitment to Israel's security.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that during the meeting, which was joined by National Security Adviser James Jones, President Obama also reiterated his determination to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

The spokesman gave no more details on the meeting. Reports here said the two sides also discussed immediate challenges to Israel's security and the regional stability, including Iran's nuclear threat and the alleged Syria's missiles supply for the Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Obama administration was "encouraged by the productive nature" of the recent talks between envoy George Mitchell and leaders of Israel and the Palestinians, said Gibbs, referring to the latest U.S. efforts to improve the atmosphere for peace and for proceeding with proximity talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Mitchell is expected to be back to Israel and the West Bank in the coming days. The United States has asked both sides to take steps to rebuild trust and to create momentum necessary for advancing the peace talks, according to State Department spokesman Philip Crowley, "We're not going to go into details about what we' ve asked them to do, but obviously this is an important issue in the atmosphere to see the advancement of peace."

Washington has been very angry at the Netanyahu-led government' s uncompromising stance on peace process with the Palestinians, considering Israel's settlement activities in East Jerusalem as an unacceptable pullback to the U.S. efforts for peace guided by the two-state solution.