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Obama gives pledge on Israel ties Obama gives pledge on Israel ties
(about 4 hours later)
US Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has vowed to strengthen US ties with Israel, at the start of a visit to Israel and the West Bank. US Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has vowed to strengthen US ties with Israel, on a visit to Israel and the West Bank.
Mr Obama spoke on arrival in Tel Aviv, fresh from visits to Jordan and Iraq.Mr Obama spoke on arrival in Tel Aviv, fresh from visits to Jordan and Iraq.
The Illinois senator is meeting Israeli government and opposition leaders during his two-day visit. The Illinois senator has been meeting Israeli government and opposition leaders as well as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, during his two-day stop.
He is also calling on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, something his Republican rival John McCain did not do on a recent visit to the Middle East Mr Obama told Mr Abbas he would quickly engage in the Middle East peace process if elected, an aide to Mr Abbas said.
After meeting Israeli President Shimon Peres, Mr Obama travelled to the West Bank town of Ramallah to see Mr Abbas and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. "Obama confirmed to President Abbas that he will be a constructive partner in the peace process," the aide, Saeb Erekat, told reporters after their meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Mr Obama told Mr Abbas he would "not waste a minute" on trying to resolve the Middle East conflict if he was elected president, Mr Erekat said.
I'm here on this trip to reaffirm the special relationship between Israel and the United States, my abiding commitment to its security Barack Obama Diary: Barack Obama's world tourForeign policy positionsIraq still dominates US election
By simply coming to Ramallah, Mr Obama has gained the appreciation of Palestinians and distinguished himself from his Republican rival John McCain, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy, who is travelling with Senator Obama.
Mr McCain did not visit the West Bank during his visit to the region.
Last month, Mr Obama angered the Palestinian leadership by saying Jerusalem - which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state - should be Israel's "undivided" capital.Last month, Mr Obama angered the Palestinian leadership by saying Jerusalem - which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state - should be Israel's "undivided" capital.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Obama is also scheduled to visit the southern Israeli town of Sderot - the target of many Palestinian militant rocket attacks. On Wednesday, Mr Obama told Israeli President Shimon Peres he wanted to "reaffirm the special relationship between Israel and the United States, [and] my abiding commitment to its security".
The most important thing for me to share is the historic and special relationship between the United States and Israel, one that cannot be broken Barack Obama class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7518581.stm">Diary: Barack Obama's world tour class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7515498.stm">Foreign policy positions class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7510802.stm">Iraq still dominates US election He said it was "my hope that I can serve as an effective partner, whether as a... senator or as a president, in bringing about a more lasting peace in the region."
He is due to leave for Germany early on Thursday. Reassure voters
"The most important thing for me to share is the historic and special relationship between the United States and Israel, one that cannot be broken," Mr Obama said after touching down at Tel Aviv airport, AFP news agency reported. Mr Obama has also met with Defence Minister Ehud Barak, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and will later hold talks with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"One that I have affirmed throughout my career and one that I will intend to not only continue but strengthen in an Obama administration." Wearing a Jewish skullcap, Mr Obama laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum.
BBC Middle East correspondent Paul Wood says Mr Obama is in the region in part to burnish his credentials on foreign policy and among Jewish Democratic Party voters ahead of November's US presidential election. "Let our children come here and know this history so that they can add their voices to proclaim 'never again'," he wrote in the museum's visitors' book.
Our correspondent says the presumptive Democratic nominee is also facing a wider US electorate, of whom 10% think he is a Muslim, according to a recent opinion poll.
Plans to visit the West Bank generated some goodwill among PalestiniansPlans to visit the West Bank generated some goodwill among Palestinians
Some also believe he was educated in a madrassa (Islamic religious school) and refused to place his hand on the Bible when sworn into the Senate - all false claims, says our correspondent. He was also visiting the southern Israeli town of Sderot, target of frequent Palestinian militant rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Mr Obama is in the region to reassure American voters, especially Jewish Democrats, of his foreign policy credentials ahead of November's presidential election, says the BBC's Middle East correspondent Paul Wood..
Our correspondent also says he faces a US electorate, of whom 10% think he is a Muslim, according to a recent opinion poll.
Some also believe he was educated in a madrassa (Islamic religious school) and refused to place his hand on the Bible when sworn into the Senate - all false claims, adds our correspondent.
Mr Obama arrived in Israel on Tuesday night from neighbouring Jordan, where he met King Abdullah.Mr Obama arrived in Israel on Tuesday night from neighbouring Jordan, where he met King Abdullah.
He earlier joined a US congressional delegation on a visit to Iraq, where he met Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar province and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Baghdad.He earlier joined a US congressional delegation on a visit to Iraq, where he met Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar province and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in Baghdad.
He repeated his goal of withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq within 16 months should he become president.He repeated his goal of withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq within 16 months should he become president.
Back in the US, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Mr Obama had been wrong to press for withdrawal timetables. He is due to leave for Germany early on Thursday.
Back in the US, Mr McCain said Mr Obama had been wrong to press for withdrawal timetables.
Are you in Israel or the Palestinian territories? Are you following Obama's world tour?Are you in Israel or the Palestinian territories? Are you following Obama's world tour?
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