The moment that, in his Aipac speech on Sunday, President Obama began reeling off all the instances over the past three years when his administration had stood firmly by Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisers went into crisis mode.

The Israeli Prime Minister has emphasised the urgency of a response to the Iranian nuclear threat.

President Barack Obama has vowed that all options will remain on the table when it comes to US action against a nuclear Iran.

The US leader, speaking at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) conference in Washington DC, said he would be willing to consider "all elements of American power" to counter the Iranian threat.

All three of Israel's most senior leaders are visiting the United States in attempt to reach an understanding with the Obama administration over a possible strike on Iran's nuclear programme.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak conferred this week with the heads of the Pentagon while President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will both meet President Barack Obama.

The flurry of dip

Palestinian political activist Mustafa Barghouti has no doubt where to put the blame for the latest unproductive round of Mid-East peace talks.

Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to block legislation that could threaten the independence of Israel's judicial system.

The Israeli prime minister's comments, at the swearing-in ceremony of the new president of the Supreme Court, Asher Grunis, were made after months of criticism about allegedly anti-democratic laws passing through the Knesset.