JERUSALEM (AP) - Mitt Romney says any public differences between the United States and Israel only embolden adversaries.

Speaking to an audience that included campaign donors in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Republican presidential candidate made no direct mention of the tensions between President Barack Obama and Israel's leaders. But Romney did say he would never criticize Israel and would be a steadfast ally to the Jewish state.

Obama has, at times, broken with Israel's leaders and called on Israel to follow through on its commitments, such as to halt building of housing settlements.

Romney says the U.S. will always stand with Israel, including its insistence that Jerusalem be the cornerstone of Israel. Jerusalem is a flash-point in the region. Both Israelis and Palestinians have claimed rights to the city.

Romney also says the United States has "a solemn duty and a moral imperative" to block Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.

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