U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Benjamin Netanyahu April 9, 2013. Photo: U.S. State Dept.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss restarting the peace process.

Netanyahu pledged support for economic initiatives that would help strengthen the Palestinian Authority and reaffirmed his commitment to pushing forward on a long term peace plan between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs.

Kerry is in the region for a three day visit which began Sunday night in Ramallah, where he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The discussion revolved around the PA’s economic woes, but Kerry made clear Tuesday that any economic efforts would not come at the expense of a political solution.

Netanyahu and Kerry also discussed Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran unveiled Tuesday a new uranium production facility and two extraction mines, only days after talks with world powers on its disputed nuclear program again ended in deadlock.