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PA: Obama to visit West Bank, meet Abbas in Ramallah By The Associated Press PARIS - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit the West Bank next week as part of a swing through the Middle East, a Palestinian official said yesterday, giving an important diplomatic boost to the Palestinians at a sensitive time in peace talks. The Palestinians expressed satisfaction over the planned meeting with the presumed Democratic nominee, which comes months after Obama's likely Republican opponent, John McCain, passed on meeting with the Palestinians during a brief visit to Israel. Advertisement Obama is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his July 23 stop in Ramallah, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who was in Paris for a Mediterranean summit. "We welcome this meeting," Erekat said. If Obama is elected, he added, "we hope he will stay the course between Israel and the Palestinians in reaching peace and a two-state solution." During the same visit, Obama is expected to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials. The Obama campaign declined to comment. President George Bush is trying to broker a peace agreement before he leaves office. In Paris on Sunday, Olmert said the sides are closer than ever to achieving peace, but it is uncertain whether they can meet Bush's target date for at least the outline of a final deal. Israel and the Palestinians remain at odds over key issues, such as the fate of Jerusalem, and a burgeoning corruption scandal has threatened to drive Olmert from office. Palestinians have privately complained that they suspect Bush is biased toward Israel, and expressed hope the next U.S. leader will be more sympathetic to their cause. While they have been careful not to take sides, officials were disappointed when McCain did not meet with them during his trip to Israel last March. McCain has long been a strong supporter of Israel in the Senate, and it appears unlikely he will radically change Bush's policies. During his visit, McCain said he would "personally be engaged" in peace talks if he's elected and make the matter his "highest priority." Obama's positions are far less clear. In a recent speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he offered such ardent support for Israel that he had to backtrack just a few days later. Obama, working to woo Jewish voters, told the lobbying group that he supported Israel retaining control of an "undivided" Jerusalem. The comment so infuriated many Arab leaders that he was forced to issue a clarification that he didn't oppose Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the future of the city. Obama also has raised concerns among Israel's supporters because of his willingness to speak to Iran, while some have expressed concern about his Muslim roots. Obama's father and stepfather were Muslim and he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country. But he is a Christian. Few details of Obama's overseas travel schedule have been released. Obama's campaign has said he will travel to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah's pleasure For Israelis, the release of Kuntar is a form of self-inflicted torture. Exchange timeline How the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah will be carried out.

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 63 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 175 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 108 Cabinet okays Hezbollah prisoner swap, exchange set for Wednesday Responses: 110 More Headlines 00:00 Peres pardons Kuntar, says 'no forgiveness in my decision' 23:59 Mother of Kuntar victim: How can you pardon him? 23:56 Lebanon declares state holiday marking return of prisoners 22:52 TIMELINE: How the prisoner exchange will be carried out 23:40 Anti-terror unit warns Israelis in Sinai face danger of abduction 02:21 Olmert questioned over never-repaid $75,000 loan from Jewish-American businessman 01:24 Holocaust survivors in need of long-term hospital care strapped for funds 02:26 Joint secular-observant Jewish school system approved 23:37 Talansky: Olmert's lawyers won't break me in cross-questioning 17:07 Bradley Burston/ The pleasure that Hezbollah takes in torture 21:05 Blair nixes Gaza visit in light of Shin Bet warning of attack 20:37 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 02:02 Justice Dept. seeks to revoke citizenship of man accused of serving in Nazi unit 20:56 Key witness in Olmert graft probe silent under questioning Previous Editions Select Day 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul

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