Israeli leaders were quick to heap praise on America’s next president, in a determined effort to ensure that the historically close ties between the Jewish state and the US will continue to flourish once Barack Obama moves into the White House in January.

Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister, issued a statement stressing “that the special Israel-US relationship is based on shared values and interests and is characterised by ties of close cooperation”. He added that “we have no doubt that the special relations that prevail between the two countries will continue to strengthen during the Obama administration”.