国际英语新闻：Obama, Netanyahu meet over mending relations

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Xinhua) -- In a clear move for mending relations, U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday reaffirmed U.S. commitment on Israel's security by vowing to mount pressure on Iran, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, in turn, convinced Obama that his government would "take risk" for peace with the Palestinians.

"The bond between the United States and Israel is unshakable. It encompasses our national security interests, our strategic interests, but most importantly, the bond of two democracies who share a common set of values and whose people have grown closer and closer as time goes on," Obama told reporters after his meeting with Netanyahu in the White House.

U.S. President Barack Obama(R) meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(L) in the White House on July 6, 2010

As Israel's deep concern over Terhan's nuclear threat, Obama convinced the prime minister that the United States would continue to "put pressure on Iran to meet its international obligations and to cease the kinds of provocative behavior that has made it a threat to its neighbors and the international community."

After pushing UN Security Council to pass a resolution on Iran' s nuclear program, President Obama early this month has signed a Congress bill on expanding unilateral sanctions against Iran, as an extra effort to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

The Obama-Netanyahu meeting was widely viewed as an important opportunity for the two allies to mend their relations, which has been in tensions since the two leaders took offices last year over disputes on peace in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear program.