Obama to meet Netanyahu at White House

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on March 5, as a potential Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites has become a hot topic in Washington, the White House said on Monday.

Tom Donilon, the president's national security advisor who just concluded a three-day visit to Israel, relayed to Netanyahu that Obama "looks forward to meeting with him," the White House said.

In his consultations with senior Israeli officials including Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of the General Staff Benny Gantz and National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror, Donilon addressed the "full range of security issues of mutual concern," the White House said in a statement.

Donilon's visit is referred as part of the "continuous and intensive dialogue" between the two countries which reflects unshakable US commitment to Israel's security. Late last month, Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to Israel.

Last Thursday, Netanyahu called Iran "the most irresponsible" country in the world, saying sanctions against Tehran over its controversial nuclear program "haven't worked". Israel also accused Iran of being behind the recent bomb attacks on its embassy personnel in India, Georgia and Thailand.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quoted as saying early this month that Israel could attack Iran as soon as this spring.