President Obama to visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories Next Week

President Barak Obama is scheduled to arrive on his first-ever visit to Israel as President of the United States on March 20, 2013. His delegation will be staying at Jerusalem's prestigious King David Hotel.

The president's three day itinerary includes visits to several sites in Jerusalem including Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial, Mt. Herzl, to visit the grave sites of notable Jewish figures including Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism as well as Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's Prime Minister who was assassinated 17 years ago by Yigal Amir, a Jewish extremist. The itinerary also includes a visit to Israel's most renowned museum, the Israel Museum, which among other artifacts, is also home to the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls on display within the famous Shrine of the Book building.

President Obama will also be giving a speech to approxiamtely 2,000 students at Jerusalem's International Conference Center.

Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem; courtesty Travelujah

The President will travel north of Jerusalem to Ramallah, located in the Palestinian Authority and currently the seat of the Palestinian Authority government. Bethlehem, located approxiamtely 8 kilometers southeast of Jerusalem was also added to the itinerary. The President is expected to visit the Church of the Nativity, a historical site that was added to UNESCO's list of protected heritage sites on June 29, 2012. 

President Obama's three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories will also include meetings with Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as a state dinner with President Shimon Peres. Labor Party leader and the Knesset's opposition leader, Shelly Yakimovich is also expected to meet with President Obama.

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Elisa L. Moed is the Founder and CEO of Travelujah-Holy Land tours, the leading Christian travel network focusing on connecting Christians to Israel. People can learn, plan and share their Holy land tour and travel experiences on Travelujah.

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