Barack Obama 'to visit West Bank'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7505893.stm

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Barack Obama, the Democratic contender for the US presidency, will visit the West Bank later this month, Palestinian officials say.

Mr Obama is due to meet Palestinian and Israeli leaders during the visit. He is also expected to visit Jordan.

During the tour, his first overseas since securing the nomination, he will also visit Germany, France and the UK.

The Republican Party contender, John McCain, visited Israel in March but did not meet Palestinian leaders.

In June Mr Obama pledged unwavering support for Israel in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a prominent lobbying group.

He said that Israel's security was "sacrosanct" and "non-negotiable". He also said he would do "everything" to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon.

Mr Obama added that real security came from lasting peace in the Middle East - and he would work from the start of his administration to achieve a Palestinian state alongside an Israeli one.

In a comment criticised by Palestinian leaders, he also said that Jerusalem should be the undivided capital of Israel.

Mr Obama later issued a clarification saying he did not oppose Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the city's future.