Obama seeks to reassure Israel

Standing in an Israeli town often hit by Palestinian rockets from Gaza, Barack Obama today pledged his "unshakable commitment" to Israel's security.

"The threats to Israel begin in Sderot, but they don't end there," Obama said at a news conference.

He said he has an established voting record in support of Israel, but also said that it is "strongly in the interest of Israel's security to arrive at a lasting peace with the Palestinian people."

After saying that Iran's nuclear weapons program is the biggest threat to Israel, he was asked about his willingness to meet with leaders of Iran, who have threatened to wipe Israel off the map.

Obama said he would bring "tough, serious, direct diplomacy," and said if Iran rejected the overtures, that would put the United States in a stronger position to ratchet up international pressure.

He also met earlier today with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas under heavy security at Abbas' West Bank government headquarters.

After laying a wreath at Israel's Holocaust memorial and what he called "productive discussions" with key Israeli leaders, he plans to meet this evening Israel time with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.