Obama to visit the West Bank and Jordan in March

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Obama to visit Israel, first time as president

WASHINGTON — 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.

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.

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.

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. Other top administration officials, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have visited, and Clinton's replacement, John Kerry, is expected to travel to Israel on his first Mideast trip.

For Obama, the trip might also be a chance to improve his image within Israel, where many view him as not supportive enough of the Jewish state.

Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem had no immediate comment on the report of Obama's visit. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior official with the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the visit was important given Obama's expressed interest in playing a role in Mideast peace efforts.

"We hope that this is more than just a symbolic visit, but with a clear message and clear commitment to the genuine substance and imperative of peace," Ashrawi said.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-politics-whitehouse/20130205/US.Obama.Israel/

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Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem had no immediate comment on the report of Obama's visit.

I think Netanyahu's people are busy trying to see if anyone is willing to see him outside of Israel during that time. That way he can be unavailable - you know, get back at Obama for not indulging him in New York last year. It's just that there aren't many world leaders that are actually interested in entertaining Bibi anymore.