( CNN ) -- Talk of Iran 's nuclear program took center stage Thursday in discussions between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . The inescapable topic of peace between Israel and its Palestinian rivals was also on the agenda . Netanyahu has accused international powers that reached a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program of making a `` historic mistake '' that could put Israel in grave danger . The agreement calls for the easing of economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for increased inspections and limits on the country 's uranium enrichment program , which many international analysts fear is meant for military purposes . In public remarks after his private meeting with Netanyahu , Kerry said the United States remains committed to Israel 's security . `` I ca n't emphasize enough that Israel 's security in this negotiation is at the top of our agenda , '' Kerry said , according to pool reports . `` And the United States will do everything in our power to make certain that Iran 's nuclear program -- a program of weaponization possibilities -- is terminated . Negotiator in chief : How John Kerry delivered the Iran deal . `` We agree on what the goal of the final status agreement ought to be , '' Kerry said . `` And in the days and weeks ahead , we will consult very closely and continually with our Israeli friends in order to bring about a comprehensive agreement that can withstand everybody 's test . '' Kerry also made another push for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Thursday as he hopped between Jerusalem and Ramallah to address grievances from both sides . He kicked off talks in July , but in November , both sides dug in to their decades-old trenches and passed around blame . `` We have always known that this is a difficult , complicated road , and we understand that , '' Kerry said in remarks with Netanyahu . `` I believe we are making some progress , and the parties remain committed to this task . They are meeting regularly , and they have also remained -- we have remained in very close touch with both leaders as we proceed down this road . '' He also addressed peace after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas . `` Today , we discussed at great length issues of security in the region , security for the state of Israel , security for a future Palestine , '' Kerry said . `` And we , I think , made some progress in discussing some of the ideas that are on the table . We are not going to discuss these further publicly , but I will say that the goal here for everybody is a viable Palestinian state with the Palestinian people living side by side in peace with the state of Israel and with the people of Israel . '' Earlier , Netanyahu said that Israel is `` ready for a historic peace '' based on a two-state solution but that Israel 's security needs must be respected , and finger-pointing that he said helped derail the earlier talks must end . `` What we need is not grandstanding but understanding , '' he said . Israeli , Palestinian accusations . In November , Netanyahu accused the Palestinians of continuing to incite distrust of Israel and perpetuating an `` artificial crisis '' to avoid a real peace deal . Palestinians shot back that it is Jerusalem that has been sowing distrust , but the hottest issue remains the construction of thousands of Jewish settlement units on the West Bank and other land that Palestinians claim as theirs . It is the real source of the `` deep crisis between the Palestinians and the Israeli negotiations team , '' a Palestinian official said . He accused Israel of falsely claiming that the Palestinians were willing to let construction go forward if Israel released more Palestinians from prisons . It 's a concession that Israel commonly makes in deals with the Palestinian leadership . It 's simply not true , the official said . `` All settlements are illegal in the West Bank and Jerusalem . '' Motivating players . Kerry has been toting along a gift bag to motivate the players . Palestinians are receiving economic stimulus from Washington , which is shelling out a $ 100 million contribution to a program to build new roads , water lines , schools and other infrastructure . The measure , called the High Impact Micro-Infrastructure Initiative , is also expected to create jobs for the unemployed in the impoverished territory . The United States has also tasked U.S. Gen. John Allen to work up an assessment of Israel 's security needs in the event of a comprehensive peace agreement , Kerry said . It 's a must if Israel is going to sign on , Netanyahu said . `` Israel must be able to defend itself by itself . ''
NEW : Effort to restart peace talks `` made some progress , '' John Kerry says . U.S. secretary of state says United States puts Israel 's security first . Comment: Iran 's nuclear program also discussed in Israeli talks .