US 'Will Never Pressure Israel' on Security: VP

The US supports recent Israeli strikes on Palestine and "will never pressure Israel to take steps that threaten its security," Dick Cheney said in Jerusalem today. On a trip to spur stalled peace talks, Cheney is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leaders this weekend. A Hamas spokesman called Cheney's remarks "inciteful and completely biased in favor of the Israeli occupation."

Palestine says Israel has crippled the US-backed peace talks by extending settlements, keeping up road blocks, and attacking militants who fire rockets into Israel. The Israeli counterstrikes have killed more than 120 Palestinians. Cheney said Washington will not “dictate the outcome” of the process, which President Bush started in Annapolis, Maryland last year.