Historic peace requires both sides to make historically bold commitments, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

The vice president said he welcomed the start of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and expressed hope that direct negotiations will later lead to a historic peace treaty.
 

Biden also reiterated his pledge that there “is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel’s security.”
 

Netanyahu repeated Israel’s key condition to talks with the Palestinians, that they recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

He added that any peace agreement must ensure Israel’s security in the coming generations.

Aside from establishing peace with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said Israel’s security priorities included ensuring that Iran does not build any nuclear weapons.
 

"I very much appreciate the efforts of President Obama and the American government to lead the international community to place tough sanctions on Iran," he said. Strong sanctions against the Islamic Republic will force the Iranian regime to choose between advancing its nuclear program or advancing the future for its own permanence, Netanyahu said.

The American vice president said the U.S. Administration is intent on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “We're determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and we're working with many countries around the world to convince Teheran to meet its international obligations and cease and desist," he said.
 

Biden is due to meet with other senior Israeli officials and on Wednesday will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Palestinian officials before his departure to Jordan on Thursday.