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| Obama visits West Bank for talks with Mahmoud Abbas | Obama visits West Bank for talks with Mahmoud Abbas |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | US President Barack Obama has arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Meeting Mr Obama off his helicopter, Mr Abbas took him to his presidential compound for talks likely to focus on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. | Meeting Mr Obama off his helicopter, Mr Abbas took him to his presidential compound for talks likely to focus on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. |
| The American leader is spending a few hours in Ramallah and Palestinian expectations are low, analysts say. | The American leader is spending a few hours in Ramallah and Palestinian expectations are low, analysts say. |
| On his first visit as US president, Mr Obama vowed strong support for Israel. | On his first visit as US president, Mr Obama vowed strong support for Israel. |
| At talks on Wednesday, the US leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict | At talks on Wednesday, the US leader and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict |
| Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state". | Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state". |
| Two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Thursday morning, Israeli officials say, but there were no reports of anyone being hurt. A further two rockets fired from Gaza reportedly fell inside Gaza itself. | |
| Mr Abbas condemned "violence against civilians, whatever its source, including the firing of rockets", according to a Palestinian spokesperson. | |
| 'Intolerable' | 'Intolerable' |
| The US leader is being accompanied in Ramallah by his Secretary of State, John Kerry. | The US leader is being accompanied in Ramallah by his Secretary of State, John Kerry. |
| Mr Obama was met in Ramallah by Palestinian officials as about 150 protesters were kept away from the Palestinian president's compound by police. | Mr Obama was met in Ramallah by Palestinian officials as about 150 protesters were kept away from the Palestinian president's compound by police. |
| A banner hung out at the Bab al Shams Palestinian protest camp in Jerusalem read: "Obama: you promised hope and change, you gave us Colonies and Apartheid." | A banner hung out at the Bab al Shams Palestinian protest camp in Jerusalem read: "Obama: you promised hope and change, you gave us Colonies and Apartheid." |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says the West Bank meeting could prove a difficult corner to turn, after Mr Obama also declared that the US was Israel's strongest ally. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says the West Bank meeting could prove a difficult corner to turn, after Mr Obama also declared that the US was Israel's strongest ally. |
| Palestinians have been disappointed with the American leader and expectations are low, our correspondent says. | Palestinians have been disappointed with the American leader and expectations are low, our correspondent says. |
| In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their undeniable suffering in pursuit of a homeland. | In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their undeniable suffering in pursuit of a homeland. |
| Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says. | Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says. |
| Following the talks in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in earlier this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states". | Following the talks in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in earlier this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states". |
| "We extend our hands in peace and friendship to the Palestinian people," he said, adding that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians. | "We extend our hands in peace and friendship to the Palestinian people," he said, adding that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians. |
| But the two leaders also said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself". | But the two leaders also said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself". |
| After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday. | After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday. |
| Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. | Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. |
| Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital. | Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital. |
| Both Israeli and Palestinian groups have staged protests in the run-up to Mr Obama's visit. | Both Israeli and Palestinian groups have staged protests in the run-up to Mr Obama's visit. |
| There were clashes in Hebron in the West Bank between Israeli settlers and pro-Palestinian protesters, and in Gaza City protesters burned US flags outside UN offices. | There were clashes in Hebron in the West Bank between Israeli settlers and pro-Palestinian protesters, and in Gaza City protesters burned US flags outside UN offices. |
| Meanwhile, Israelis have staged protests in Jerusalem demanding Mr Obama free Jonathan Pollard, imprisoned in the US in 1987 for spying for Israel. | Meanwhile, Israelis have staged protests in Jerusalem demanding Mr Obama free Jonathan Pollard, imprisoned in the US in 1987 for spying for Israel. |