US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell said on Tuesday that Washington's commitment to Israel's security was unquestionable though disputes remain over Jewish settlements and peace process with Palestinians.

"I want to begin by stating again, clearly and emphatically, beyond any doubt, that the US commitment to the security of Israel remains unshakable," Mitchell said during his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

"The policy gaps are not disagreements among adversaries and that the two countries "remain close allies and friends," he added.

"We're working hard to achieve our objectives for comprehensive peace in the Middle East, to which you have referred, Mr. President, including a Palestinian state side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel," he added.

Mitchell also met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, who detailed Israel's security needs, as well as possible steps which could be taken to bolster the Palestinian economy.

The US envoy is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman later in the day and then to travel to the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Tension between Israeli and US government is increasing as Israel is reluctant to halt settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and to endorse the two-state solution.

In a landmark soothing address to the Muslim world, US President Barack Obama said that his administration sees no legitimacy in Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank and called for a total freeze of settlement expansion.

Yet the Israeli government has so far refused to follow the call, and is trying to convince the Obama administration to accept unofficial understandings reached with the previous US government that Israel would retain certain major settlement blocs in any final-status deal with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu will deliver a major address on his diplomatic policy on Sunday in Bar Ilan University, in which he will present the principles for achieving peace and security.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)