Jerusalem, July 29 (DPA) US National Security Advisor James Jones was in Israel Wednesday for briefings related to Iran's nuclear programme, in the midst of a week of intense US-Israeli diplomacy.

General Jones heard updates from senior Israeli security officials, before scheduled meetings with Israel Army Chief of Staff Gaby Ashkenazi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

The national security advisor landed in Israel Tuesday, heading a 15-member delegation of top US officials who also deal with Iran, including special State Department advisor Dennis Ross and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns.

He arrived on the heels of US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who were in the region earlier this week.

While Mitchell discussed the disagreement over Israeli settlement construction and efforts to move toward a renewal of peace talks, Gates' talks in Jerusalem Monday also focussed on Iran.

Gates' and Jones' separate visits come amid ever-rising speculation over whether Israel intends to strike Iranian nuclear facilities from the air.

The hardline Netanyahu government, which took office four months ago following elections Feb 10, has called stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons a top priority.