Got this today. Forwarding parts FYI.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next week President Obama makes his first trip to Israel since he was elected president. He will meet with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders on this trip, as well as visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, the Shrine of the Book (home of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and speak to college students in Jerusalem. This is a crucial trip as relations between the U.S. and Israel have been strained in recent years... but shouldn't have been..Mary
President Obama is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli President Shimon Peres, and may also meet with opposition leaders in Israelšs Knesset. Mr. Obama will also hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Though some early rumors had suggested that the president would unveil a wide-ranging peace initiative, White House aides have been lowering expectations regarding any major announcements being made on this visit.
President Obama continues to prod both the Israelis and the Palestinians to return to peace talks and promote the early creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. [That being the case, O should stay home. The Palestinians are part of the Arabs, not the Jewish people. I as a US citizen sure don't want Israel to judge me by the US president.] It is unclear that any serious progress will be made toward that end during this trip. Israel continues to focus on the threat of Iranšs nuclear program, and military sources have indicated the U.S. delegation will focus a great deal of attention on trying to dissuade Israel from launching a military campaign aimed at halting Iranšs work..... (emphasis: mary)
This is certainly a time fraught with danger for Israel, and the Jewish People are in need of our prayers, God bless you.
To the Jew first and also to the Nations,
Jonathan Bernis