White House: Obama, Netanyahu never better

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- U.S.-Israeli relations are excellent, the White House chief of staff said, dismissing reports of tension between the leaders of the two countries.

Jack Lew said Thursday President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu "have never had a closer relationship," The Jerusalem Post reported.

Lew said there had been "a lot of misinterpretation of things" that led to perceptions that Obama had pressured the Israeli leader to negotiate with the Palestinians.

"The role that he [Obama] has played is the role that the United States has played in the past -- to help bring the parties together, but not force the parties," Lew said.

Obama has not visited Israel during his term in office but did visit the country before he became president.

"He wants to go again" Lew said, and indicated Obama will go to Israel if he is re-elected to a second term next week.

Lew said the American-Jewish community still has "very strong support" for Obama just as Jews have historically supported Democrats.

An October survey by the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University found Jewish Israelis preferred Republican Mitt Romney over the president, 57 percent to 22 percent.