Obama, Netanyahu discuss peace, terrorism

WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu discussed cooperation on counter-terrorism issues Monday, the White House said.

Obama and Netanyahu also discussed ways to advance Middle East peace talks and recent violence in Gaza, a readout of the telephone conversation indicated.

Netanyahu thanked Obama for U.S. funding for the Iron Dome rocket and mortar defense system, and Obama congratulated the prime minister on the technological achievement, expressing pride about the U.S.-Israeli cooperation that made the defense system possible, the White House said. The budget document for this fiscal year included $205 million in U.S. funding for Iron Dome.

Obama had called Netanyahu to offer best wishes before the start of Passover.