US President Barack Obama has arrived in Israel for his first trip there since he was elected, amid protests and tight security in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
In a welcoming ceremony at Tel Aviv airport, Mr Obama said US commitment to the security of Israel was rock solid.
"I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate America's unwavering commitment to Israel's security and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbours.
"I am confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, is forever."
Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Mr Obama to Israel.
Mr Netanyahu said: "Thank you for standing by Israel at this time of historic change in the Middle East.
"Thank you for unequivocally affirming Israel's sovereign right to defend itself by itself against any threat."
The war in Syria and concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions are expected to top the agenda in talks with both men.
Mr Obama will also hold separate talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank during his three-day visit to the Middle East, which also includes a visit to Jordan.
The US president hopes to reset his often fraught relations with both the Israelis and Palestinians in a carefully choreographed stay that is high on symbolism, but low on expectations.
US officials have said he will try to coax the Palestinians and Israelis back to peace talks.
He will also seek to reassure Mr Netanyahu he is committed to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear bomb and discuss ways of containing Syria's civil war.
Israel and the US agree that Iran should never get a nuclear bomb, dismissing Iran's assertion that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The White House has deliberately minimised hopes of any major breakthroughs, a reversal from Mr Obama's first four years in office when aides said he would only visit Israel if he had something concrete to accomplish.
With both Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu just starting new terms and mindful that they will have to work together on volatile issues for years to come, they will be looking to avoid the kind of public confrontation that has marked past encounters.
Mr Obama will tomorrow travel the short distance between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah to meet Mr Abbas.
The US President is accompanied by his Secretary of State John Kerry.
A few hours before Mr Obama landed in Israel, Mr Netanyahu received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Moscow, an Israeli official said.
However, he did not specify a date for the visit. That trip would follow a visit to Moscow last week by Mr Abbas.
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