Obama's policies making Israel uneasy

Washington: Israeli President Shimon Peres vowed that Israel will not yield to Iran's nuclear threat as he prepared to meet US President Barack Obama, who has stirred unease with his policies toward Iran. Peres, who will be the first top Israeli to meet Obama since the US president's inauguration, also voiced hope for peace with the Palestinians and other Arabs before his talks at the White House today. "Unfortunately the Middle East finds itself in the shadow of a nuclear threat. We shall not give up. We shall not surrender," Peres told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful lobby, yesterday. His tough talk on Iran drew cheers and applause at the annual policy conference of AIPAC, which is pushing for a tougher US stance on Iran. "Historically, Iran sought to enrich mankind. Today, alas, Iran's rulers want to enrich uranium. What for?" he asked, referring to fears it aimed to produce an atomic bomb. "In addition to their nuclear option, they invest huge capital in long-range missiles." He also warned of the threat to peace in the region through Iran's support of anti-Israeli groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The veteran Israeli leader said he will deliver to Obama "a strong message for a country yearning for peace," adding: "Today there is a chance for real peace."