National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem today in advance of the U.S.-Israel Consultative Group meetings. Ambassador Rice congratulated President Peres on the occasion of Israel’s 66 years of Independence, and conveyed President Obama’s warmest greetings. They discussed the unprecedented cooperation between the United States and Israel. On Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Ambassador Rice reaffirmed that the only path to a lasting peace is for a secure Jewish state to exist side-by-side with a viable, independent Palestinian state, and she thanked President Peres for his unwavering dedication to peace. She underscored that the United States and Israel are profoundly linked together by our shared values and ideals, and noted that President Obama looks forward to welcoming him for a visit to the White House on June 25th.