(CNN) - President Barack Obama recently discussed an upcoming spring visit to Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney confirmed Tuesday in the daily press briefing.
While overseas, Obama will also visit the West Bank and Jordan "to continue his close work with Palestinian Authority officials and Jordanian officials," Carney added.
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The trip to Israel would mark Obama's first visit as president. While Obama traveled to the country in 2008 during his presidential campaign, he did not visit Israel during his first term.
Carney added "additional details, including dates of travel, will be released at a later time."
The president discussed the visit while on the phone with Netanyahu on January 28, shortly after the prime minister was re-elected for the third time in the country's elections last month.
"The start of the president's second term and the formation of a new Israeli government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Israel and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of issues of mutual concern including of course Iran and Syria," Carney said.
Obama campaign aides said last summer that the president would make a trip to Israel should he win re-election.
Obama's not the first president to go to Israel only during his second term. President George W. Bush went to the country in both January and May of 2008, the last year of his presidency.
Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton visited the country during his first term and former President Jimmy Carter traveled there during his first and only four years in office.
Former President Ronald Reagan did not visit the U.S. ally at all during his two terms.
– CNN's Ashley Killough, Gregory Wallace and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Keep him safe
Okay, I will.
Trip to Israel? For what? He is a weak joke of a leader over there. Waste of time and money.
...........HERE IT COMES.............the Ttards SCREAMING that Obama is leaving on VACATION while the US budget talks are going on......................
I never much cared for Netanyahu's politics, but I give anyone respect until they lose it. Netanyahu lost around the time that photo was taken....a couple of times. First he wagged his finger in the Presidient's face as if he were a misbehaving child. Next, he complained about Obama's remarks regarding a base line starting point for negotiations with the Palestinians. Finally, repeated to the Congress the same base line starting points that Pres. Obama had previously mentioned and Netanyahu had ridiculed. This man is an Israeli version of the neo-cons that we have in the US. He barely won an election, and now his fragile coalitin has probably told him to invite Pres. Obama otherwise his weak coalition will dissolve.
And, as a guest of Israel, I'm sure President Obama will conduct himself in a gentlemanly and courteous manner,
unlike Netanyahu did when he was a guest in America.
I wonder if Bibi will ditch him for dinner like Obama did to him.
Perhaps he could take a side trip to Acapulco. Its nice there this time of year.
i think reagan was best not visiting israel as president
Israel has a lot of explaining to do and if the U.S. continues to be Israels best ally we will surely see some of our allys distance themselves from us. I support Israel but I question their views on human rights.
Of course there will be some last minute change of plans requiring him to go to any other Mideast nation instead. Everyone knows that. He's NEVER going so the question you have to ask yourself is why would they make up this stupid claim in the first place. Obama's favorite Israeli party, Kadima, barely made 2 seats in the Knesset and that was only because of a rule requiring a default membership. There's no upside for anyone to go and no political leverage Obama can extract by going. No he should stay home or go anywhere else. Go to Gaza, go to Damascus, go to Tehran. Make another stump speech for the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo. No one in Israel cares since Obama polls at about 5% favorable in Israel. One thing Israel can do is announce that they're winding down all military cooperation and announce a timeline where all aid from the US ends. Since 75% of it by law has to be spent in the US that's $2.2 billion per year cycled back to the economy. Announce that they're pulling out of the F-35 program and give the US a timeline to remove their ballistic missile radar station from the Negev. Last but not least, offer the US a deal – move the embassy to Jerusalem or it will be downgraded to a trade mission.
And it only took 4 years to visit "a great ally". Nice!
My guess is that Michelle and the kids wanted to go.
-target
Trip to Israel? For what? He is a weak joke of a leader over there. Waste of time and money.
**********************
And the Neocons would have had us invading at least 3 other countries in the region by now, if Romney had won. It would have been a waste of money only if Netanyahu's old Bain co-worker had won the election, since Romney clearly could only work off the script John Bolton and Netanyahu was waiting to hand to him. Ask Al-Queda if they regard him as weak: I'm sure their answer would be a definitive " no".
Netanyahu's days are numbered. He does not deserve a visit from the potus.
Things the Obama sheep don't like to talk about: Obama's willingness to use drones to assassinate American citizens, Obama conveniently forgetting about Gitmo....and gay marriage...and the Sandy victims...and the Jobs Counsel. Obama, failing America since 2008.
Be safe Mr. President. Didn't Eli David just get killed here in America? Oh, wait. That was an NCIS episode. Surely Israel can handle the security detail?
But I agree with PJ. Between the two (Netanyahu and President Obama) Mr. Obama will indeed conduct himself in a gentlemany and courteous manner. No doubt Netanyahu can observe and learn from the experience.
Pres.Obamas going to let Netanyahu down easy telling him he won't protect his little Jewish ass if he keeps his bullying crap up!!No more mister nice guy Pres.Obama and tell him if he keeps it up you'll take his toys and sandbox away!!If Isreal starts a war with Syria then you know as well as I we have another intervention just like Vietnam and we don't need another war like that one do we!!
brace yourselves.... the antichrist comments are coming
I hope the secret service has learned a lesson and will be acting like adults during the deployment.
you wanna visit now that your arab middle east policies are in flames? way to go barry...
hopefully to tell them we are not paying their way anymore
No hanky panky BIBI ...better show respect for your Godfather.. we know how much u need this right now
Ronnie didn't visit them at all...so he CLEARLY didn't support Israel!...lol!
Mossad's 'puppy' going over to lick his Master's Hand, LOL