Barack Obama to vist Israel and the West Bank
President Barack Obama plans to visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan as part of an upcoming trip to the Middle East.
The trip marks President Barack
Obama's first visit to Israel, a staunch US ally, since he became
president Photo:
Reuters
Earlier, Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, confirmed Mr Obama would travel to Israel in
the spring, his first trip to the Jewish state since taking office, but dates
for the trip were not released.
Mr Obama will meet Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and
Palestinian and Jordanian leaders during the tour, Mr Carney said.
The trip marks Mr Obama's first visit to Israel, a staunch US ally, since he
became president.
The White House has not released the date of Obama's trip or details about
Obama's itinerary, but Israel's Channel 10 reported that a visit had been
scheduled for March 20.
"The start of the president's second term and the formation of a new Israeli
government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between
the United States and Israel and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of
issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Syria," said National Security
Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor.
Although Mr Obama visited Israel while running for president in 2008, he has
not been back since, drawing intense criticism from some pro-Israel groups who
have claimed he is insufficiently supportive of the United States' closest ally
in the Middle East. Other top administration officials, including former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have visited.
The trip could help repair Obama's tarnished image in Israel, where many view him as cold to the Jewish state. Israelis vividly remember Obama's decision not to visit when he stopped in neighboring Egypt early in his first term to deliver a speech.
The trip could help repair Obama's tarnished image in Israel, where many view him as cold to the Jewish state. Israelis vividly remember Obama's decision not to visit when he stopped in neighboring Egypt early in his first term to deliver a speech.
