U.S. President Barack Obama gave the opening speech at the Presidential "Facing Tomorrow" conference, which opened Tuesday night in Israel. Speaking via video linkup, Obama congratulated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on the event, and praised President Shimon Peres, sponsor of the conference, as a "wonderful statesman," who had contributed much to the strong ties between Israel and the U.S.

Obama stressed that the good relations between Israel and the U.S. were far more than a "strategic alliance," and that both Israel and the U.S. believed that democracies could change the future. "Israel, throughout her history, has given life to that promise," he said.