Politics clouding Obama's coming visit to Israel
March 13, 2013 RSS Feed Print
By DANIEL ESTRIN, Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — A week before President Barack Obama is set to arrive in the region, Middle East politics are already casting a cloud over the visit as Israeli and Palestinian officials plan a series of events to promote their agendas.
Jerusalem city officials are offering visiting journalists a free tour of Israel's most contentious archaeological excavation, a sprawling dig in the heart of contested east Jerusalem. Israel has also suggested that journalists could avoid going to the West Bank with Obama when he meets with Palestinian leaders.
On the other side of the divide, Palestinian officials hope to introduce the U.S. president to the family of a prisoner held by Israel. Activists say they will also greet Obama with posters and demonstrations meant to draw attention to life under Israeli military occupation.
These events offer a glimpse of the political minefield Obama will have to navigate when he visits Israel and the West Bank next week, the first time he has come to the area as president. Each side will be trying to win his support for some of the most contentious issues between them.
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/03/13/politics-clouding-obamas-coming-visit-to-israel