Palestinian Official: Obama To Visit West Bank

CNN's Political Ticker:

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will be visiting the Palestinian Authority president in the West Bank next week, a Palestinian government official said Monday.

Obama will be meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on July 23, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

Obama is expected to visit Israel, but officials could not yet confirm what his plans are there. Erakat was in Paris, France, where Abbas had been attending a summit.

Read the whole story: CNN's Political Ticker

Comments

[moda31]

i can't help but be a bit afraid for sen. obama's safety whenever i see new details about his upcomming trip leak.

[loax]

This scares the hell out of McBush and his band of Merry Thugs! They are so terrified that he could negotiate the mess they have made and leave them with egg all over their faces. I cannot wait for the debates. McBush will look like he did when he was questioned on Viagra and Birth control. BTW, did he ever get back to that reporter as he promised? I thought not!

[mom2sons]

No, what they fear is the Obama might just bring about PEACE in the region and no more war profiteering for the criminals and terrorists on all sides. Everybody has made money from Israel and the Palestinians continued clashes including Bin Laden. All regular citizens have lost. Maybe they can win now with an honest broker.

[strifeknot]

Can he pry his tongue form AIPAC's bottom long enough to make such a visit?

[Jay20]

why would he ever do that, if he's trying to convince people he's christian, AND he wants the Jewish vote? Does he want to lose? Why not visit JERUSALEM.

[Zhonni]

He goes to Isreal first. Read and don't worry much about the morons who can't do their own research, for most of them are in the Republican party or are voting for McCain.

[PATina]

You mean his 'undivided' Jerusalem???

But seriously... why can't someone be Christian... and visit Palestine? Should he only seek the Jewish vote... but not the Arab vote? Aren't some Palestinians Christians??? I guess you believe he should give into the politics of fear and play it safe.... instead of being the bold, new leadership America (and the world) is craving.

[Cedman]

Many Palestinians are NOT Muslim.

[JJeff88]

I hope the stops in his trip are kept low-key; however, that's probably pretty unrealistic.

Even though the candidate and the campaign might be closed-lipped about it, the folks in the places he plans to visit are likely to leak like a sieve.

Nonethless, I hope the trip is less "photo op" and more (in hockey terminology) "grinding along the boards."

[akryan]

hate to be pessimistic but this might just reinforce the stereotype of him being a closet muslim terrorist.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Only in the minds of the idiots who were never going to vote for him in the first place.

[lotuslike]

Yes! Bravo, Obama!!

[coba]

arent these sort of details supposed to be private for safety reasons sensico.wordpress.com

[vallon]

I gues that's only when Condi and her buddies are involved...

[Daly]

Few thoughts on that:

Many countries are so thrilled and delighted to meet Obama that they have leaks and a country like Palestine never getting to be on the world stage this is to be expected.

Shrub and others have so often had to sneak into countries as if they were ashamed; Condi and others have talks and do talk to these countries but they'd like to hid the fact fostering a forgone conclusion of failure.

Larger countries like Germany even with all the flack does consider it an honor to meet and greet an American with the ability to sing more than war, war war.

Hopefully the ridged right will not try and spin this Palestinian visit as any more.

[jeanrenoir]

PS What AIPAC and the conservative elements in Israel it works for most deeply fear about Obama, aside from his fund-raising independence of them because of the Net, is his potential for tremendous, and growing, popularity in America and the world. Obama has the potential to be the most popular American president at home and abroad since FDR. If he achieves his potential, he will therefore have unprecedented freedom of operation in the MIddle East, and will be virtually independent of Israeli conservative hawks. An absolute nightmare for them.

[LanosIceland]

It is so difficult to find any politician in the USA, of any colour, with the courage and moral conviction to impress on Israel that their ongoing treating of the palestinians is comparable only to that what they themselves have suffered under the nazis. The occupation and theft of palestinian lands, the 10,000 palestinians in Israeli prisons, the starvation of a population and the state killings of anyone brave enough to resist the occupation, these things are all acceptable in today's society as long as Israel is doing it. Amnesty, the INRC, the UNHCR and many other objective organisations have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that Israels actions towards Palestine is tantamount to modern slavery and crimes against humanity, and war crimes, yet no one seems to care, and Israels remains above the law. Maybe Obama will finally be the one to say to 'a friend' that their behaviour is unacceptable in a civilised society.

[meanguy]

yeah, LET 'mr conviction' go over and compare the israeli government to the nazis, accuse them of 'crimes against humanity'...sure, THAT'LL work...and afterwards, i'll come pick you up in my flying car and we can go eat pancakes on the moon...

[MissT]

Jimmy Carter tried something along those lines and was immediately branded anti-semitic.