Ehud Barak praises Obama’s ‘resolute backing of Israel’

Outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised President Obama and former Defense chief Leon Panetta Sunday for their "resolute backing of Israel" during the past four years.

Barak spoke at a gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, D.C. where he welcomed new U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and outlined a range of strategic priorities for Israel.

Foremost among these should be curbing the Iranian nuclear threat, the former Israeli prime minister said, followed by "reinvigorating" the Palestinian peace process.

"They clearly bear most of the responsibility for past failures," Barak said of the Palestinian leadership. "I know a fully-fledged agreement is probably not feasible today … [but] as our sages teach us, if not now, when?"

Barak also highlighted issues of border security and missile defense he said need further attention.

The AIPAC policy conference is the largest gathering of Israel supporters in the United States.

It regularly draws speeches from administration officials, top level diplomats and presidents. Obama spoke in 2012, but will be represented by Vice President Joe Biden this year.

Barak is scheduled to meet Tuesday with Hagel, whom he has known for more than a decade. Per reports, their agenda will include the threat posed by Iran and the sequester's effect on U.S. aid to Israel.

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