Israeli president celebrated Hanukkah with Obama

US President Barack Obama declared "unbreakable ties" between the US and Israel, when on Wednesday celebrated Hanukkah with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin in the White House.

Obama said Washington wants to help reduce tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, which has manifested itself in recent months in the form of numerous knife attacks and other incidents of violence.

“Although it is obvious that at the moment the prospects for establishing serious peace may seem remote, it is important that we continue to try,” Obama said after meeting with Rivlin in the Oval Office.

Obama and Rivlin stressed the close ties between the United States and Israel.

Obama sought to show that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not indicative of more extensive American-Israeli ties.

“We consider our commitment to the security of Israel to be one of the most important principles of American foreign policy, and this principle is shared by both Democrats and Republicans,” said Obama.

Later that day, Obama and his wife Michelle took Rivlin at an annual celebration in the White House on the occasion of Hanukkah. The Israeli president lit the menorah, which was made in his homeland of the 1920.

Obama wished “inspiration for creating something beautiful and lasting in this world” and added: “May the warmth of family and friends around the world bring us comfort and joy.”

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday of candles that are lit in honor of the miracle that occurred during the consecration of the Temple after the victory of Yehuda Maccabee's troops over the troops of King Antiochus in 164 BC.