Obama to Visit Israel on Passover Eve to Push Peace
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Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama was given a T-shirt by the mayor of Sderot on his last visit to Israel, July 23, 2008.
Photo Credit: Edi Israel/Flash90
President Barack Obama is planning to visit Israel, the PA and Jordan this spring, probably in March, the White House said yesterday, hinting at a new American effort to restart Israel-Palestinian peace efforts.
Israel’s Channel 10 News cited a source in Washington that said the president will visit Jerusalem on March 20th—the week just before Pesach.
Could be a plot to avoid running into protesting settlers, who would be too busy cleaning…
Obama’s trip, his first to Israel since taking office, appears to show that he intends to concentrate on Middle East politics:
“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,” Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said Tuesday, “and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of issues of mutual concern, including, of course, Iran and Syria.”
Obama’s new secretary of state, John Kerry, also plans to visit Israel in March.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said a visit by the president would be “an important opportunity to underscore the friendship and strong partnership between Israel and the United States.”
Dennis Ross, a former Middle East adviser to Mr. Obama, told the NY Times the trip reflects “a desire to connect with the Israeli public at a time when he can go and not have high expectations about having to produce something.”
Ross added that the president “can create a new beginning with the same prime minister but with a new Israeli government.”
The Times pointed out that Obama visited Israel in 2008 as a candidate, but not during his first term, a fact that was criticized by a pro-Romney commercial saying Obama “traveled all over the Middle East but he hasn’t found time to visit our ally and friend, Israel.”
Incidentally, four sitting presidents have visited Israel: Richard M. Nixon and Jimmy Carter one time each, George W. Bush twice, and Bill Clinton four times (by the fourth time there were rumors he was checking the possibility of running for the Knesset on the Labor list).
tell a friendAbout the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.
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Before condemning the President of the USA because he has the temerity to disagree with your leader, stop and think about where Israel would be without both the Jewish communities of the USA and the government. So, we disagree? Is that now anti-Jewish? At the same time, do we cut off the billions of dollars in private and public aid or the lobbying efforts in your behalf? No! So accept that you are not a dictatorship who can silence others. Your Orthodox community sometimes is its own worst enemy—often acting more authoritarian that the Muslim neighbors who are calumnized for the same behaviors. The next time one of your ultra-fanatics spits on a Jewish child, think about how we were treated in Europe just before all hell broke loose! Clean up your own house and you will earn the respect of others. It is by the grace of G-d that some of my family is in America instead of having become smoke from the chimneys of Auswitz! You are not the only ones who paid the price.
so why if you are Jewish are you not celebrating passover in Jerusalem, as each year it has been known that you say."next year in Jerusalem, and still you are in America, is it because you like the lifstyle in America and hate to share the poverty of some in Israel?
milton I really believe, you should move to Israel, and help your own people instead of pontificating from a safe place in the U.S.A. I doubt if Obama would like to be told by Canada, how to run the U.S.A, so I would imagine it is the same for the prime minister of Israel.
Before condemning the President of the USA because he has the temerity to disagree with your leader, stop and think about where Israel would be without both the Jewish communities of the USA and the government. So, we disagree? Is that now anti-Jewish? At the same time, do we cut off the billions of dollars in private and public aid or the lobbying efforts in your behalf? No! So accept that you are not a dictatorship who can silence others. Your Orthodox community sometimes is its own worst enemy—often acting more authoritarian that the Muslim neighbors who are calumnized for the same behaviors. The next time one of your ultra-fanatics spits on a Jewish child, think about how we were treated in Europe just before all hell broke loose! Clean up your own house and you will earn the respect of others. It is by the grace of G-d that some of my family is in America instead of having become smoke from the chimneys of Auswitz! You are not the only ones who paid the price.
I hate to disagree with Milton T – but Obama's visit on Passover's eve is nothing but a "photo op" – Israel will reap nothing from it. Trust me, America has lived in this "photo op" world with this president. Hurricane Sandy, depression, unemployment… we get great retoric, long speeches, a few photo ops to go with each issue – NO FOLLOW THROUGH. Don't let him "mock" Israel while there. He is no friend. I am Christian who loves and supports Israel (as do most Americans) We have our radicals too, but the radicals of either of our countries does not change the man that walks in the shoes of Barack Hussein Obama. A snake is always a snake – no matter what he tells you (from a fable).
I fully agree with you.
Would a world Leader Visit President Obama on christmas eve or other holidays I don't think so.
It would be wise for Israelis to plan a sincere warm welcoming demonstration.
All anti-Obama protesters, no matter how right or sincere their views of the President are, will only harm the President.
This is not the time or place to vent.
Any insults, especially any racist ones will be magnified as page one news.
I made a mistake with one of my lines should have said will only harm Israel.
BE CAREFUL THIS JERK CAN'T TELL THE TRUTH!
Obama to help as Shabbos Goy.
http://thepartialview.blogspot.com/2013/02/forget-dough-we-need-shabbos-goy.html
President Obama Awards Medal of Freedom to Israel's Shimon Peres; then, Martin E. Dempsey, awarded IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz the “Legion of Merit” award on behalf President Barack Obama and finally, Bibi will received hand-made matza for Pesach made by the Muslim Brotherhood White House representatives and delivered by President Barack Obama himself. Bibi will have to find the afikomen…the prize is a free trip to mecca.
sounds all so deceiving coming bearing gifts, and act friendly while mischief is in their hearts, somehow it sounds familliar.
Obama knows nothing about Islam or Muslims. He may declare a Palestinian State.
Obama was born and raised as a Muslim, knows the Koran by heart, supports the Muslim Brotherhood who wants to destroy Israel and the worst president that Israel has ever had to work with in the history of the American administration. In fact, Obama knows everything about Islam and Muslims but nothing about Judaism and for this he wants a Palestinian State…to further Islam’s rule over the world.
We true christians believe Obama is a muslim at heart. as he doesnt follow christian teachings, i.e he is for abortions and same sex marriages which are agains the faith of all true christians.
You believe… not all Christians. What Muslim teachings do he follow. None!
Obama knows nothing about Islam or Muslims. He may declare a Palestinian State.
2 state is on the agenda where the arab and jew come together a democratic republic of palestine with upper house always controlled by wealthier citizen who should feed the poor in both nations.