JERUSALEM, Israel -- Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon said the global community could give Israel concrete assurances that it cares about the security and continued existence of the Jewish state if it would take of the Iranian threat.

"It's a dangerous attempt to link the Palestinian problem with the Iranian," Ayalon told reporters ahead of President Obama's visit. "They're not linked; however, taking care of the Iranian threat would help very much assure the Israelis that they can be more ready for negotiations with the Palestinians."

Ayalon said Israeli leaders would then be able to focus their energy on talks with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he and Obama will discuss Iran, Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks when the American leader visits later this month.