Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened his speech at the United States Congress on Tuesday by reiterating Israel's strong ties with the U.S., saying "Israel has no better friend than the U.S. and the U.S. has no better friend than Israel."
The prime minister's speech was briefly disrupted by a heckler, who was quickly escorted out by security. Netanyahu said about the heckler, "I appreciate that protesting is aloud" adding "this is the real democracy."
Netanyahu rejected those that call Israel a "foreign occupier", saying that no one could deny the "4,000 year old bond between the Jewish people and the Jewish land."
"Why has peace eluded us?" the prime minister posed as he began to discuss the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. "Because so far, the Palestinians have been unwilling to accept a Palestinian state if it meant accepting a Jewish state alongside it."
Reiterating a point he has made several times throughout his official trip to Washington, Netanyahu said that Israel "will not return to the indefensible borders of 1967."
"Israel will be generous on the size of a Palestinian state, but will be very firm on where we put the border with it," Netanyahu said.
At the start of his speech, the prime minister congratulated the U.S. on getting Osama Bid Laden, adding "good riddance".
"I am dearly moved by this warm welcome," Netanyahu said, after being received in Congress by a long standing ovation. He received another standing ovation after mentioning that he saw many friends in the audience "both Democrats and Republicans."
As part of his visit to Washington the prime minister had earlier met with U.S. President Barak Obama, after which he reiterated his stance that Israel cannot go back to the "indefensible" borders of 1967.
The two leaders' meeting came a day after the U.S. president's Mideast policy speech called for negotiations for a two-state solution based on 1967 lines.
On Monday, Netanyahu spoke at the AIPAC policy conference where he spoke about Obama's "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security.
He also reiterated his rejection of Obama's call for an Israeli-Palestinian peace based on 1967 lines.
Israel has historically enjoyed broad support from the U.S. Congress, a sign of which was seen at the AIPAC dinner when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid challenged Obama's on the border issue, saying "No one should set premature parameters about borders, about building or about anything else."
U.S. sponsored peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since an Israeli freeze on West Bank settlement building expired in September. Palestinians insist that a building freeze be reinstated before they return to the negotiating table, while Israel has said that they must return to negotiations with no preconditions.
Palestinians have said that they will meet in Ramallah on Wednesday to determine what their next step will be, following Netanyahu's visit to Washington.