article_snippet: Israeli security forces stand guard following clashes with Palestinian youths during protests against Jewish settlements in the West Bank .
article_snippet: The president was in the East room with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to talk about a potential troop withdrawal, but talk of Israel occupied nearly 20 minutes of the press conference . '
article_snippet: Obama brushed off a follow-up question from a reporter about whether Obama administration would try to force the issue through the United Nations Security Council, where the U.S. has for decades blocked measures designed to establish a Palestinian state despite Israel's objections.
article_snippet: Obama also took pains to clarify that any reassessment of U.S.-Israeli relations wouldn't have an impact on defense arrangements with Tel Aviv. '
article_snippet: Our military and intelligence cooperation with Israel will continue – unabated, unaffected – and Our are absolutely committed to ensure that the Israeli people are safe,' Obama said, 'particularly from rocket attacks and terrorist attacks aimed on civilians.'