Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised no concerns about President Barack Obama’s choice of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said in Israel on Tuesday.

A prominent member of the U.S. Senate, Nelson said Israel should not worry about Obama's choice of Hagel for the Pentagon job.

Some in Israel view Hagel as unsympathetic to Israel because his positions on Iran and the Palestinians seem to be at odds with those of the Israeli government.

But U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida who is visiting Israel, said Tuesday that Hagel has a record of support for Israel. Nelson said he will back Hagel's nomination.

Nelson, who will serve on the Armed Services Committee of the new Senate, said he met with senior Israeli intelligence officials Tuesday to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

He said he also discussed Hagel's nomination with Netanyahu and the prime minister did not voice objections.

Nelson took issue with comments this week by his colleague Rand Paul. During a visit to Israel, the Republican senator from Kentucky called for an end to foreign aid, even to allies like Israel. Nelson said U.S. aid to Israel, about $3 billion a year, would continue.