Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met privately with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Wednesday, the second day of his visit to Los Angeles.

Olmert spent part of a 30-minute sit-down with Villaraigosa discussing a possible joint investment in renewable energy sources, biotechnology or other environmental ventures, officials said.

In a separate meeting, Olmert chatted with Schwarzenegger for about 20 minutes about alternative energy, economic growth and other issues, said the governor's spokeswoman, Margita Thompson.

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The state signed an agreement with the Israeli government on Monday intended to stimulate tourism.

The courtesy visits came a day after Olmert addressed the United Jewish Communities, an umbrella group for dozens of organizations.

There, Olmert called on the international community to thwart the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

"Our generation will be judged by its ability to ensure peace and security, not by its failure to stand up to the most challenging of threats," he said.