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Last update - 00:40 23/07/2008 Obama arrives in Israel, vows to 'plunge' into Mideast peacemaking By The Associated Press Tags: Palestinians, U.S.  U.S. presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Israel Tuesday night, facing a full schedule of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders after pledging to work for peace as soon as he takes office. Obama flew to Israel late Tuesday from Jordan, where he condemned an attack a few hours earlier by a Palestinian man from East Jerusalem who rammed a bulldozer into passing cars in central Jerusalem, injuring at least 24 people before being shot dead by a civilian and a Border Police officer. "Today's bulldozer attack is a reminder of what Israelis have courageously lived with on a daily basis for far too long," Obama said. Advertisement Obama said he would plunge into Mideast peacemaking, where efforts have failed for decades, warning there were no quick solutions. Earlier Tuesday, at a press conference in Amman, Jordan, the Democratic senator promised to work toward achieving a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations "starting from the minute I'm sworn into office." Obama added that any U.S. involvement in peace talks must recognize "not only Israel's security concerns but also the economic hardships facing Palestinians." He said he would continue to "regard Israel as a valued ally. That policy is not going to change," he said. "What I think can change is the ability of the United States government and a United States president to be actively engaged with the peace process and to be concerned and recognize the legitimate difficulties that the Palestinian people are experiencing right now." Obama, in the midst of a weeklong high visibility foreign trek, also acknowledged the long history of Middle East tensions that would confront him if he were to become president. "It's unrealistic to expect that a U.S. president alone can suddenly snap his fingers and bring about peace in this region," he said. Obama was in Afghanistan and Iraq before arriving in Jordan on Tuesday for talks with King Abdullah. He planned to leave for Israel later in the day. He then is scheduled to travel to Europe. Obama condemned an attack in Jerusalem on Tuesday, where a Palestinian man rammed a construction vehicle into cars and a bus near the downtown hotel where Obama was scheduled to stay later in the day. An Israeli civilian and a Border Policeman shot and killed the driver. Several people were injured in the attack, which resembled a deadly vehicle assault that took place in the city earlier this month. "Today's bulldozer attack is a reminder of what Israelis have courageously lived with on a daily basis for far too long," Obama said. Campaign aides said Obama intends to visit a southern Israeli town that is a frequent target of rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The stop in Sderot is part of a crowded day of events on Wednesday in which the Illinois senator has also arranged to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on the West Bank and with Israeli leaders. Susan Rice, a foreign policy adviser, said Obama wanted to go to Sderot because "it is a place in which Israel's security is every day at risk and threatened. And Senator Obama will have the opportunity to see that first hand and get a very personal feel for the everyday difficulties." His schedule indicates he intends to spend slightly more than an hour there. Obama's trip to Iraq and Afghanistan was an official congressional trip, paid for with federal funds. The balance of his travels are financed by his presidential campaign. Obama is working to shore up support among U.S. Jewish voters, many of whom supported Hillary Rodham Clinton in the battle for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and some of whom have questioned his commitment to Israel. Obama's schedule for Wednesday also includes a visit to Yad Vashem, the Israeli memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Aides said a stop at the Western Wall, one of the holiest places in Judaism, was also a possibility. In addition to Abbas, Obama's meeting list for the day includes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and members of his Cabinet as well as Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the opposition Likud party and a former prime minister. In his news conference, Obama alluded to the internal domestic problems facing Olmert, who is facing allegations of corruption, and the political schism among Palestinians. "One of the difficulties that we have right now is that in order to make those compromises you have to have strong support from your people, and the Israeli government right now is unsettled," he said. "You know, the Palestinians are divided between Fatah and Hamas." He compared the existing circumstances with those that permitted Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to sign a peace treaty in 1979. "Those leaders were in a much stronger position to initiate that kind of peace," Obama said. Obama's itinerary WEDNESDAY: 8 A.M. Breakfast at the King David Hotel with Defense Minister Ehud Barak 8:45 A.M. Meeting at the hotel with opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu 9:45 A.M.  Visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, wreath-laying at Hall of Remembrance 11 A.M.  Meeting with President Shimon Peres 1:30 P.M.  Meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Muqata, in Ramallah 2:45 P.M.  Meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni 4:15 P.M.  Visit to Sderot with Livni and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter 5:10 P.M.  Press conference at Sderot police station 8:30 P.M.  Dinner with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert 10:10 P.M.  Visit to the Western Wall THURSDAY: 6:40 A.M.  Obama leaves for Europe Bookmark to del.icio.us   A hero or a pharaoh? An Iranian film praising Sadat's assassin has touched off a row between Egypt and Iran. Primary colors Barack Obama looks to reassure Jews of his commitment to Israeli security.   1.   Obama aims for breakthrough 21:10  |  Akiva P 22/07/08   2.   The neocons are history 21:43  |  Wendy 22/07/08   3.   Legitimate difficulties? 21:48  |  Jeff 22/07/08   4.   Obama`s Aims = a Catastrophe for Israel 22:28  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/07/08   5.   Obama needs to re-think 22:57  |  rick 22/07/08   6.   We Finance It, We Can End It. 23:04  |  Cool B 22/07/08   7.   JUst Say No To Obama 23:38  |  sj truth 22/07/08   8.   2 Wendy, watch out for the Neo-Libs 23:39  |  The Equalizer 22/07/08   9.   #1 Akiva P., great attitude on Obama`s ignorance 23:40  |  Mark B. 22/07/08   10.   6 23:42  |  road map 4 cuba firs 22/07/08   11.   OF COURSE, NO VISIT TO GAZA 23:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/07/08   12.   Cool B and Soap 23:50  |  Barry 22/07/08   13.   Obama aims for breakthrough 23:53  |  Sweetie 22/07/08   14.   #5 rick, in the end Obama`s CHANGE is meant for American society 23:57  |  Mark B. 22/07/08   15.   Rick & Cool B 23:58  |  Barry 22/07/08   16.   Why was an Israeli citizen carrying a loaded weapon. 00:11  |  Labhras 23/07/08   17.   Don`t concern yourself 00:18  |  * BEN JABO 23/07/08   18.   Obamas Visting Increases U.S. Skepticism of Pals eom 00:19  |  Brad 23/07/08   19.   In addition to the usual platitudes which Obama has to make let 00:22  |  lakshmi 23/07/08   20.   US Congrees Is Democrat ,US Citizenry Will Elect Republican Mcain 00:25  |  Joseph.E 23/07/08   21.   Cool B # 6 Reply 00:29  |  WYSIWYG 23/07/08   22.   Obama is full of.Cr,.p 00:30  |  ottomatik 23/07/08   23.   Cool #6 00:31  |  George Kaplan 23/07/08   24.   reply#6 00:48  |  Sue 23/07/08   25.   Clickson form Dursex 01:02  |  Fish 23/07/08   26.   obama 01:12  |  don barnes 23/07/08   27.   Obama`s itinerary published-WHY? 01:25  |  KenB 23/07/08   28.   Obama never had have sympathy for the Israeli?s 01:30  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 23/07/08   29.   Obama in Israel 01:32  |  Artist 23/07/08   30.   I`m Glad Obama is Visiting Israel 01:43  |  Jane 23/07/08   31.   If I could snap my finger....and poof... 01:45  |  Avi 23/07/08   32.   Re:Cool B.Dont you that you are living in occupied territory 01:45  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 23/07/08   33.   Forget it, Obama 01:52  |  Dovy 23/07/08   34.   Obama needs to negotiate with Carter 01:58  |  Voice of Reason 23/07/08   35.   WYSIWYG 01:59  |  Cool B 23/07/08   36.   Integrity in the News, Based on a Code of Ethics 02:04  |  Zach Jones 23/07/08   37.   Stop Kidding Yourselves 02:08  |  Raymond 23/07/08   38.   #8 Georgr Kaplan 02:21  |  Cool B 23/07/08   39.   Cool B - Occupation My %$$ 02:22  |  Fish 23/07/08   40.   OBAMA DESERVES AIR FORCE ONE 02:31  |  indrajaya 23/07/08   41.   Obama is absolutely correct about suffering 02:32  |  natan 23/07/08   42.   Cool B, don`t sweat WYSIWIG 03:24  |  BBSNews 23/07/08   43.   Peace 13:14  |  zanardm 23/07/08   44.   #16 Lahbrass 19:36  |  * BEN JABO 23/07/08   45.   Obama`s plunges 22:35  |  Brod 23/07/08   46.   #16-2 Labhrass 01:39  |  * BEN JABO 24/07/08   47.   Jane #30 01:45  |  Brod 24/07/08   48.   Jane #30 03:34  |  Brod 24/07/08   49.   #42 BSnews - Don`t talk about Laws 15:10  |  * BEN JABO 24/07/08

Read & React Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work Responses: 73 Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples Responses: 65 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran Responses: 36 Editorial: We need a U.S. leader unfettered by the Israel lobby Responses: 52 Israel Harel: Shalit must be made a burden for Hamas, rather than an asset Responses: 19 Rosner's Domain Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 14:37 Palestinians: Settlers rampage through West Bank village 14:11 Barack Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples 09:31 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran 14:53 Terror victims' relatives file NIS 450m suit against PA, Barghouti 13:36 MKs okay new West Bank homes, despite vow to freeze settlements 14:41 Study: Tel Aviv more expensive to live in than New York 15:36 Jewish World/Unwilling flag wavers? 16:05 Egypt shuts Iranian TV office in Cairo amid spat over Sadat film 14:51 Haredis likely behind vandalism of Jerusalem ads featuring actress 09:27 ADL condemns anti-Semitic cartoons of Obama, McCain 13:34 VIDEO / Musician Idan Raichel woos Arabs in Al-Jazeera interview 13:33 Pop singer Aviv Gefen pens new ballad calling to free Shalit 07:18 Shin Bet head Diskin: Gaza lull is lifeline to Hamas 06:53 After 40 years, Israel braces for return of the bedbug Previous Editions Select Day 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul

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