Washington, May 22 (IANS) US President Barack Obama Sunday vowed that the US will help maintain Israel's qualitative military edge and stop efforts to recognize an independent Palestinian state at the UN.

 
 Speaking to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, Obama reaffirmed America's "iron clad" security commitment to the Jewish state and said the US will stop efforts to "single out" Israel at the UN or any other international forum, Xinhua reported.
 
 He also defended his Thursday speech on the Middle East policy, saying what he said was misinterpreted by the media.
 
 There is nothing particularly original in his Thursday remarks, Obama said, arguing that a peace deal based on the 1967 borders and mutually agreed land swaps has been the US position at least since the Bill Clinton administration.