Posted on 02/05/2013 4:07:47 PM PST by lbryce
President Barack Obama will go to Israel in the spring, the White House said Tuesday, marking his first visit to the staunch U.S. ally since becoming president. While in the region, Obama will make stops in the West Bank and Jordan.
Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the visit to Israel in late January, when Obama congratulated Netanyahu on his success in Israel's recent election. 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 the trip 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.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama would work closely with Palestinian Authority and Jordanian officials on regional issues during his visit to Jordan and the West Bank.
Obama's trip to Israel, coming shortly after the start of his second term, could offer an opportunity to repair a notoriously strained relationship with Netanyahu. But the trip is almost certain to raise expectations for the type of peace initiative that eluded Obama and his foreign policy team during his first four years in office. Obama has in the past warned against setting expectations too high for a breakthrough in stalled negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Although Obama visited Israel and Jordan while running for president in 2008, he hasn't been back since, drawing intense criticism from some pro-Israel groups who have claimed he is insufficiently supportive of the United States' closest Mideast ally.
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HELP US, Israel.
Please.
First time as president.
The other time was as an exchange student from Kenya.
To tell them. He won! again! Leave Israel!
Why would Israel even bother welcoming him? He’s the enemy.
They should not let him get off of our airplane.
Maybe they know of a plan by Hezbollah to send massive rockets attacks into Israel on the dates he is there. No tears would be shed in our household if he was a victim!
Netanyahu should treat Obama as Obama treated him!
I don't think I could ever hate enough to match how much they hate each other.
That is alot of Hate :\
Is he planning on presenting a seven-year peace agreement?
The Kenyan’s a Kenite.
We should analyze this statement.
What type of "peace" has eluded him?
Peace for Obama does not mean the same thing to us as it does to him.
His "peace" is the denial of our freedom.
His "peace" is the subjection of Israel to their enemies.
Maybe Obama will test HIV positive and not make the trip.
No tears here, either.
Now, that’s a thought. Unfortunately, the state of pharmaceutical advancement having prcatically eliminated any physical handicap, disability that might have otherwise disabled, prevented HIV-ONE from participating in.
Presumably the visit to the West Bank is to lay a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat.
“HELP US, Israel.
Please.”
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