Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ended his visit to the US with warm words for President Barack Obama. He was asked in a CBS interview why a recent poll found that 71% of Israeli Jews disliked the US president and 47% expressed a strong dislike. Netnayahu said, "Maybe it's because they haven't had the chance to have conversations with him (Obama) of the kind that I have had. It's possible that they are also not aware of the continuing cooperation between Israel and the US in security, intelligence, or that the Iron Dome defense plan against missiles is something that the administration and the president are pushing for. We have the joint aim of reaching a secure peace and I expect to work together with Obama to reach that goal."

He added, "I have invited the president to visit Israel. I hope he will find a suitable time to come. I think that people need to get to know him."

He said, "The first lady Michelle Obama has shown very warm relations to my wife. We were received very warmly. I hope that I can pay them back."

Asked if he has confidence in Obama, Netanyahu said, "I have confidence in Barack Obama, the president of the United States, to implement together with me the policies that unite Israel and the US. We have joint aims and common interests. Now we have the mission of reaching the joint target of peace with security. I'm convinced we can do it together."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 8, 2010

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