Barack Obama guarantees US support for Israel

Barack Obama moved yesterday to shore up his credentials on national security during his trip to the Middle East by promising that he would back Israel against any threat to its existence, most notably an attack by Iran.

With foreign policy appearing to be the Republicans' most fruitful line of attack on the Illinois senator in the presidential election, committed himself to preventing the Iranians gaining nuclear weapons. "A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said.

Obama also reiterated his belief that Jerusalem should remain the capital of Israel, a position he first adopted shortly after winning the Democratic nomination with the intention of shoring up the support of Jewish voters in swing states such as Florida.

"I continue to say that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel," he said. "I have said it before and will say it again ... but I've also said that it is a final status issue that has to be dealt with by the parties involved."

While in Israel, Obama met with Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate leader of the Palestinian national authority, and came out strongly against Abbas' militant enemies in Hamas. He also met withe the under-fire Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, and visited the town of Sderot, which is frequently targetted by missile attacks from Gaza.