Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday chided political opponents who said he had interfered in the U.S. presidential elections, and stressed solid ties between the two nations.

Speaking at a cornerstone-laying ceremony for a new hospital in coastal Ashdod, Netanyahu said that "One of the foundations of our security is the brave partnership between us and the United States. "

Terming the relationship between the two allies as "a strategic partnership," Netanyahu said "We have cooperation in all areas but especially in the security sphere."

Netanyahu said cooperation between the two was "deep, broad and fundamental," and added that he would continue to work with U.S. President Barack Obama "in order to advance the vital interests of the State of Israel regarding the security of Israel's citizens."

But, turning to local political rivals, he said, "In recent days, I have been hearing voices -- that are coming from among us - - that are trying to stir things up between us and United States," adding "This will not help them."

On Wednesday, former prime minister Ehud Olmert slammed Netanyahu's seeming support for Mitt Romney, Obama's opponent in the hard-fought race -- particularly during a visit by the Republican candidate to Israel this summer.

Political analysts are debating if Olmert will decide to run as leader or part of a potential center-left bloc in the upcoming national elections on Jan. 22, 2013.

"Following what Netanyahu did in the last few months, the question arises of whether or not our prime minister has a friend in the White House," Olmert told a group of New York Jewish leaders, according to the Times of Israel.

However, soon after the election was called for Obama, U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro said "The relationship between the president and the prime minister is a good relationship."

"They work very well together," Shapiro said. "They meet frequently. They spoke on the phone regularly. Their teams work extremely well together. I know that President Obama looks forward to an opportunity to visit Israel."

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio that the Israeli-U.S. relations were "excellent."

Steinitz characterized Olmert's accusation as "absurd," and suggested that the former prime minister "not ... interfere in the elections in Israel and certainly not with statements that may cause damage to the State of Israel."

Olmert said Netanyahu "was a breaking of all the rules, when our prime minister intervened in the U.S. elections in the name of an American billionaire with a clear interest in the vote," referring to Romney backer, magnate Sheldon Adelson.

"The very same billionaire used Israel's prime minister to advance a nominee of his own for president," Olmert said.