. >> nickel johnston is an east jerusalem. she has been speaking to president about the funding. >> qatar has announced a $1 billion fund for east jerusalem. is supposed to be the future capital of the palestinian state. it has been an israeli occupation since 1967. the economy is depressed, the area is neglected. many palestinians are not able to build houses, they cannot afford to buy houses, and they cannot get permission from israel to expand their houses. most oflast few years, the focus has been on gaza. spend its money in east jerusalem and the entire area is under israeli control? >> the money should go to the palestinians in jerusalem who are having a hard life, cannot pay their bills, and israel is putting pressure on them. >> they do not give license for building. >> over the last few years, hundreds of israeli settlers have moved into neighborhoods in east jerusalem. there is at least five houses behind me, these are being taken over by israel the settler spurred base to be palestinian homes. you can see the israel

they know they need to try to build up that east jerusalem. they're going to have any hope as having it as a future capital. >> nikole johnson, live in jerusalem. a birthday party for a leader who is no longer in power. >> i am happy and content here. my children are safe. they learn to care for the planet. >> and in colombia where >> top stories on al-jazeera, hundreds in protests in cyprus for the. -- bank bailout deal. bank ofident of the cyprus has resigned. national coalition leader taking the seat once held by a sharp fall assaad. china and brazil have signed a trade deal worth $30 billion using their own currencies trying to reduce their dependence on the u.s. dollar and the euro. the agreement was made at the bric meeting, the biggest summit of the five biggest emerging nations, which form a big chunk of the world economy. the bric countries as some of the most robust economies but they're looking to turn around cash flow. also expected to announce the formation of a new development bank, an alternative to the world bank or imf. regiona

respect of refugees but the other was that the lines are fairly clear one needs two states with east jerusalem as the capital of palestine what of the main problems with achieving the two state solution then is the determining factor in the middle east israel wishes to expand its territory and it does this by means of expansion of settlements does this by constructing an alleged security war within poster need to review which has resulted in the seizure of palestinian land and we are going to see. some form of legislative control exercised over the area see that is rural palestine by israel so you know the words we see de facto annexation of palestine taking place and what is really sad for me is that this is so obvious but the international community turns a blind eye united states european union russian federation china the whole international community simply turns a blind eye to facts that are very very clear fredricka thank you very much thank you. a clear image of iraq after a. twenty day taxi trip through the country. the road. clear evidence from north to south. of iraqi tragedy. after

we're here at kalandia checkpoint between east jerusalem and ramallah where police are using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters who are come coming out in masses in the west bank and in gaza to protest the israeli land policy which they call discriminate of towards palestinians and say is breaching their human rights now that the protests have been happening since last since friday since last night where palestinians in several towns have come out to call for the end of the israeli occupation we have a very heavy border police presence here we were expecting more clashes to occur throughout the day not just here but also in northern israel and of course in several places across the west bank was expected the president obama would make way during his very recent visit to israel and palestine which happened just last week but obama did say that these settlements are impeding the peace process but he didn't go any further than that although many have expected that he will put more pressure on the israeli government than he did now of course there's also the u.n. report

east jerusalem has been under israeli occupation for decades. they are now excavating ruins from king david some 3,000 years ago. some jewish people say the remains support their claim over this part of jerusalem. they have designated the area around the ruins as national park. they plan to expand it. city officials have ordered 88 households in the area to leave. he's one resident that has been told he must go. buildings have been illegally constructed. the order is place for decades. >> translator: they want to kick us out. >> reporter: authorities have demolished the home of his next door neighbor. the family was not given chance to remove their furniture. some >> it's not just a scientific tool but a political tool. that's enough for us to legitimate our belongings. >> reporter: any archaeologist would be excited to dig in this part of the world. it's connecting with historical perceptions and this come my colla complicates the presence. >>> people who work in the energy industry are searching for ways to slash our use of fossil fuels. some

east jerusalem has been under israeli occupation for decades. israeli archaeologists are now excavating ruins from the days of king david, some 3,000 years ago. some jewish people say the remains support their claim over this part of jerusalem. israeli officials have designated the area around the ruins as a national park. they plan to expand it. what's more, city officials have ordered 88 palestinian households in the area to leave. this is one resident who has been told he he must go by early june. the officials say buildings have been illegally constructed. to him, the order is outrageous. his ancestors have lived in this place for generations. >> translator: what israelis really want after all is to kick us out. they are exploiting religious and historic cal assets as a pretext for justifying occupation. >> reporter: israeli authorities have already demolished the home of his next-door neighbor. the family were not given a chance to remove their furniture. some archaeologists in israel warn over making a political issue out of ancient digs.

now with six hundred thousand illegal israeli settlers in the occupied west bank in occupied east jerusalem six hundred thousand people that are violating international law every morning simply by getting out of bed because their bed is built illegally expropriated land it makes no sense to me it's a no brainer this is illegal and we should have international right now but i don't . national law as we know is not usually and again this time was not the basis on which the u.s. sees there being a solution the u.s. position is the only solution will come from negotiations between the two parties as if this was a border dispute between colombia and ecuador you know and not the reality of international law violations by a occupying power imposing itself on an occupied population and of course days ago i woke up once again to the media reporting gaza militants fired rockets into israel during obama's trip of course amid the fact as you said it starts when you when you start the clock i mean you can go back in decades or you could we. should not be firing rockets full stop because those are only a

and now the west bank and here in the kalandia checkpoint which is right it should ramallah and east jerusalem the tensions are high as people are highly unhappy with what's been happening. in regards to the israeli settlements on the land that palestinians consider their own talking about to the palestinians. has there been any progress to at least a curb or settlement expansion on palestinian land. well you know you cannot say that there has been any improvement whatsoever of course last week's visit by president obama did install some hope and to people until he spoke and until his just spoken in said some words that basically led to nowhere he did of course day that the settlements are a major block to the peace process but he did not go any further than that he did not exert that pressure on the on the israeli government led by a benyamin netanyahu and that left a lot of people angry and frustrated it does not seem like the peace process is that going to happen anytime soon because the israeli government does not get any any of this does not respond to any pressure even if it is exerted f

today's clashes which are happening in the west bank and even here at the checkpoint between east jerusalem and ramallah are the prime example of how the situation really is in this region there were no doubt that things are getting a little bit tense way you all we can see just behind you of course those offices there and you know in school gasol do take care and well we'll catch up with you with an update on. the guantanamo hunger strike and he has a the we think the conditions for the protesting in. alleges they're becoming increasingly unbearable r.t. talked to a lawyer of one of the striking detainees and she told us of the girls are resorting to hamas tactics to pressure them to end a campaign then deep under guard who is in guantanamo now also says the measures only encourages more detainees to join the hunger strike and described her own clients apply. the first year that i saw him he was very weak he had not been able to sleep because he said said the camp authorities had lowered the temperature in much of the camp to very very free temperatures it's it's here that's the guards her

blew up when there was an israeli announcement during the trip of new settlement construction in east jerusalemharsh rebuke by joe biden and kicked off three years of tension between the president and the prime minister. they have not been able to get on the same page to the county where president obama has really stopped talking about it. i'm not clear how much he's even going to talk about the palestinian issue on this trip. maybe indirectly but they really haven't had much of a meeting of the minds when it comes to the major core issues such as settlements, etc. then the real retrenchment from what president obama had hoped to do originally e. not to mention that netanyahu had overt public support for mitt romney during the presidential race, i'm sure that plays into the tension. this relationship, how does it shape how the two countries might be dealing with iran? >> yeah, that's an interesting question and from talking to american israeli officials this relationship endures even when there is tension between the two leaders even though it doesn't help to have that kind of daylight between

the issue here is that it's in a so-called quadrant e-1 right outside of east jerusalem and it would basically chop up the land available to the palestinians. so it would make the west bank really an untenable piece of land. and divide it so with borders and barriers and checkpoints. it would be impossible for people to get to work, get to school, to live as a functioning state. >> andrea mitchell, martin fletcher, joel, we will ask to you stand by. the news conference expected to start at 2:25 now, instead of 2:05. when that happens, we will of course bring it to you live. back here, developing, the manhunt for the gunman who shot and killed the from colorado corrections at his own home. >>> also, immigration reform is back on the fast track in washington. but our first team quotes some gop senators are trying to slow it down. we are on twitter and you can find this @newsnation, one word. you know it can be hard to breathe, and how that feels. copd includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. spiriva helps control my copd symptoms by keeping my airways open for 24 hours. plus, it redu

for the palestinians, in the west bank and gaza and occupied east jerusalem in a viable independent israeli state in the very heart of the arab world. you're absolutely correct. israel is an independent state. the question to you and to many israelis, israel must embed itself in its environment. israel must be integrated into the region as a good citizen as long as the palestinians, and i'm both as a scholar of the middle east and also as an american. as long as the palestinians remain disinherited, they will be there peace and stability. israel is very powerful. israel is a fortress. but all of us would like to see the jewish community fully integrated into that part of the world by reaching a settlement based on security and peace and reconciliation. this is the way to go. and abbas, anyone else. the reality, i'm choosing my words very carefully. the israelis will never find a better partner than mahmoud abbas who has fully accepted a settlement based on a two-state solution. full security for israel and dignity for the palestinians and a viable state on the, what we call the 23% of what

. >> brown: on one important issue, new jewish settlements in the west bank and east jerusalem, the country's new housing minister said yesterday that building would continue in, quote, accordance with what the government's policy has been thus far. palestinian leadership has refused to enter peace talks while israel continues the settlement policy. another issue at the top of the new government's agenda is iran and its nuclear program. >> we face very great threats. iran continues in its race to obtain an atomic bomb. it continues to enrich uranium in order to produce a bomb. >> brown: iranian officials have said their nuclear work is only for peaceful purposes. in an interview that rared on israeli television last week, president obama said it would take iran a year to develop a nuclear weapon, a longer timetable than that put forward publicly by israeli leaders. but the president reiterated his commitment to keep that from happening. >> when i say that all options are on the table, all options are on the table and the united states has significant capabilities. but our goal here is to make

you need to be able to create a palestinian capital in east jerusalem and you need to be all to withdrawlers that would be beyond the borders of the states. you need leadership on both sides willing to make the compromises necessary for a deal. you need public opinion to be receptive to a deal. ideally to be able to approve it by a majority in a referendum. and fourth, you need a context, both a security context where things are generally calm and there aren't buses blowing up or israeli incursions into the west bank or gaza. and you also need a regional context. both the support of the neighboring arab states for a deal. and the involvement of the international community, particularly the united states. >> i want to -- >> i would argue that today -- >> i want to jump off that last point and open it up to our panel in new york. in terms of the involvement of the united states in pursuing a two-state solution. the president is over there, to, we've call dd a charm offensive. he is not polling very well in israel. >> you could put it like that. >> 10% approval rating. he spoke to an audien

unfortunate that apac is trying to hide all of the problems that are going on in the west bank in east jerusalemand then of course there is the issue of gaza which was recently the. victim of a by israel that left almost two hundred people dead. thank you very much indeed for joining us live on all three great to hear your thoughts on this thank you. thank you. well it's not just waterfall but also money talk dominating this year's apec conference pros really lobbyists want to ensure aid to israel is exempt from the looming u.s. spending cuts something we touched on in that interview and what remains to be seen whether they will succeed we're interested in your opinion on whether a cut in the budget for israel will have some sort of effect on the country let's see how the views are not online poll different the moment these are your reaction so far to the questions we're asking on r.t. dot com almost half of you believe that the israeli lobby won't allow the funding to be slashed about a third we can see hold an opposing view they say that all the foreign handouts must be reduced regardless and

. ♪ >> earlier today, people from all over the world attend the easter vig -- east vigil in jerusalemurch has been an important pilgrimage and is considered the holiest christian site in the world. >>> president obama wished americans a joyful easter and passover in his weekly address today and reflected on his faith. >> this weekend, michelle, ma lela, sasha and i will join christians around the world to celebrate the resser eckdz of jesus -- resurrection of jesus christ. >> he said the easter and passover holidays give millions of people a chance to slow down and recommit themselves to their beliefs. on monday, they will hold the easter egg roll on the south lawn. more than 35,000 people will join the first family. >>> doctors in south africa say nelson man dem law is -- mandella is breathing more eavesy tonight. a government spokesperson confirmed he was suffering from pneumonia. he was admitted to a hospital wednesday and underwent a procedure to join fluid from around a lung. the nobel peace prize winner has a history of respiratory problems stemming from his 27 years in prison f

. >> president obama is covering a lot ground in the middle east today traveling from jerusalem to the west bank and back. right now, he is about to sit down to a state dinner that the israelis are throwing in his honor. these live pictures some of the guests, the dignitaries. this morning, president obama told israelis and palestinians they need to compromise to find peace. abc7 news reporter, katie marzullo, is live with that report. >> lot is happening including protests and an attack. president obama is making pleas for peace and promises of support. >> president obama addressed a large auditorium of young israelis. >> i believe you will shave our future and given the ties between our countries, i believe your future is bound to ours. >> after that remark, a heckler shouted something and the president quickly recovered. >> this is part of the lively debate we talked about. this is good. [ applause ] >> in an early news conference with palestinian print abbas, he criticized israel over treatment of palestinians in the west bank. >> i have returned to the west bank because the united

minister, benjamin netanyahu, and here in new york, a msnbc contributor and she was raised in east jerusalemm going to start with you. the president has not even left yet, and there's already some criticism of the trip. "the new york times" reports earlier this week, quote, israeli officials have voiced mild disappointment that the president is not addressing the knesset. is that going to be an issue for the israeli government and what are the expectations for the trip? >> no, i don't think so. th i think that came from a few members of the knesset, but as a whole we are really looking forward to the president coming, we welcome his visit and will be rolling out the red carpet. this is a good chance to show the world the very special relationship that exists between the united states and jerusalem. we're allies and friends and we're going to showcase that this week. as well as discussing a few important issues. we've got to deal with the crisis in syria. talk about stopping the iranians from getting a nuclear weapon. but we're looking forward to this week and expecting very good meetings wit

. >> president obama is covering a lot ground in the middle east today traveling from jerusalem to theest bank and back. right now, he is about to sit down to a state dinner that the israelis are throwing in his honor. these live pictures some of the guests, the dignitaries. this morning, president obama told israelis and palestinians they need to compromise to find peace. abc7 news reporter, katie marzullo, is live with that report. >> lot is happening including protests and an attack. president obama is making pleas for peace and promises of support. >> president obama addressed a large auditorium of young israelis. >> i believe you will shave our future and given the ties between our countries, i believe your future is bound to ours. >> after that remark, a heckler shouted something and the president quickly recovered. >> this is part of the lively debate we talked about. this is good. [ applause ] >> in an early news conference with palestinian print abbas, he criticized israel over treatment of palestinians in the west bank. >> i have returned to the west bank because the united s

the minority of the palestinians in east jerusalem do have is really i.d. cards.relegal terms is that they an occupied population. guest: absolutely. the occupation that has gone on for far too long has denied palestinians the most basic of rights. israelis can arrest people, as we have seen last night. this happens on a daily basis. there are checkpoints and walls that snake through the west bank. 26 feetup as high as suppurating communities and keeping people -- separating communities and keeping people from going from one place to the other. it must end. there is a great deal of feeling that we have not achieved enough on that score to keep it alive and viable. the problem is the alternatives to the two state solution. you will have a situation where it is a one state solution where your web one segment of the population in joline democratic freedoms and another segment of the -- enjoying democratic freedoms and another segment of the population not enjoying anything. that is not sustainable. that is a recipe for continued conflict. host: the president's chip t

east peace process, which is secondary to israeli leaders when compared to the possibility of a nuclear iran. president obama and prime minister netanyahu have given a press conference. we will talk to our jerusalem correspondent about that in a moment. >> but first, the israeli president said that president barack obama has a vision that can transform the middle east. the pair met earlier in jerusalem at the start of obama 's first visit to israel as u.s. president. >> the pair said they both thought the greatest danger in the region would be a nuclear- capable of man and that he trusted obama's policy to prevent that from happening. >> obama was greeted by children singing in hebrew, english, and arabic -- a heartwarming welcome for the u.s. president. but behind the smiles, there were serious issues to be discussed. the u.s. counts as israel's most powerful ally, but this is obama's first trip to the country since he took office. >> to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate america's unwavering commitment to israel's security, and to speak directly to the people of israel and to your neighbors. >> the israeli government hopes washington can help tackle the region's most

and israel won't value the full freeze, the issue of east jerusalem's going to come up. i mean, it's just -- but i think it gets to dennis' point on the disbelief. and i also did an op-ed in "the washington post" on this issue, the need for synchronized political messaging to the publics. because how could it be that each side would say we're for a two-state majority, but the other side isn't, therefore, it won't happen? so there's got to be something where these leaders have an interest because, as dennis said, the question is, what if nothing is done? there's going to be a radicalization. so i do, i'm concerned about that. what that reciprocity will mean, i don't know yet. but i found when i tried out this idea of much more focus on public confidence building, you know, i got shot at by both sides. because no one wants to take that sort of time, and they don't want to engage in that, in that way maybe pause they feel it put -- because they feel it puts obligations on them to reciprocate. but i think reciprocity has got to be that one hook, that one light here that what

completely withdraw from the west bank and allow palestinians to live freely in the west bank, east jerusaleme are going to be facing a situation in which it is one person, one vote, one state. >> mark, let's talk about the prospects for peace here. i know we have been talking about this ad nauseam, especially over the last few days, but the sentiments that were just expressed there are the sentiments that are generally expressed by that many palestinians. what say you to that, based on what we just heard, what can we say about the prospects for a two-state solution? >> at this very moment, as martin reported, my prime minister, benjamin netanyahu is meeting with secretary of state john kerry to try to get the process moving again and i hope it's possible. if i can respond to something diana said, the whole idea that israel just pulled out and hoped for the best we laid to in gaza, we pulled down, all down all the sell thements, the settlers that didn't leave, we forced them to leave and what happened? did we get peace? hundreds of rockets by israelis into gaza on civilians in the middle of v

east. we'll break down his speech in jerusalem and what it says about america's role in the region moving forward> when we come back here, we'll huddle around the water cooler where governor chris christie faces a tough crowd, a classroom full of kindergartners. >> yes? >> i saw you on tv. >> did you? >> what was i doing? >> nothing. >> nothing? >> more of the governor's grilling when "way too early" comes right back. [ male announcer ] ok, here's the way the system works. let's say you pay your guy around 2% to manage your money. that's not much you think. except it's 2% every year. does that make a difference? search "cost of financial advisors" ouch. over time it really adds up. then go to e-trade and find out how much our advice costs. spoiler alert: it's low. really? yes, really. e-trade offers investment advice and guidance from dedicated, professional financial consultants. it's guidance on your terms, not ours. that's how our system works. e-trade. less for us. more for you. >>> we told you at the top of the show that president obama will travel to jordan later this morning after spending

i'm going to solve the middle east crisis by building an exact replica of jerusalem in the middle of it's like the baseball movie. "build it and they will come." who will come? the jewish people. what if they don't come? we'll make it nice put out a spread. okay, well, um... speaking of spreads, we're having a small welcoming party this afternoon for mr. kim, who has agreed to join us here at the university. of course he has. the oracle told us little neo was the one. you can see the matrix can't you? okay, well, obviously you're very busy with your, uh, um... come, dennis. you'll have to excuse dr. cooper. he's been under a lot of, um... he's nuts. sheldon: ♪ ay yay yay yay ♪ ♪ hava nagilah... ♪ ♪ they'll come, they'll settle, and i'll win the prize. ♪ i really don't understand your objections, professor goldfarb. why wouldn't the sonora desert make a perfectly good promised land? go away. we could call it nuevo jerusalem. please go away. said pharaoh to moses. why are all these young women here? it's take your daughter to work day. really? i was not aware of that. oh, yes. there wa

today, as president obama continued his middle east visit, hez heckled while addressing israeli students in jerusalem. >> this is part of the lively debate that we talked about. this is good. >> reporters said they shouted jonathan pollard's name, guilty of sharing national secrets with israel. president obama joked the interruption made him feel right at home. but obama's whole trip raises a question. is the u.s.-israeli alliance stronger or weaker during his leadership? what do you think? weigh in or tweet us. thanks for watching abc news. next, overnight breaking news. check in with "good morning america." they're working while you're sleeping. we'll see you here tomorrow.

east. we're live with him in jerusalem. >>> dramatic police video inside a florida dorm room as investigators on a student plotting a deadly campus rampage. did his roommate's call to 911 prevent a tragedy. >> it was some like large assault gun. >>> will it work? a high schooler with a dream makes a clever video asking swimsuit model kate upton to go with him to the prom. >> we can ride around all night long, 'til 11:00, that's my curfew. >> who can say no to that? is it a date? we'll ask him "today," march 20th, 2013. >>> and good morning, everyone. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm savannah guthrie. >> i'm hoda kotb in for matt. let's live there for one second. >> i know. >> hi. >> i checked the mug. it is just water. >> i do have to say i was a little tiny bit disappointed because i thought don nash was going to fill me up a little bit. >> no. >> i realized this is a long way from laughing and scratching with kathie lee gifford. >> so happy to have you here. we have a lot of news to get to this morning. the president just touched down in israel, happened about 6:15 eastern tim

inaudible conversations] >> president obama has just completed a trip to the middle east which included visits to jerusalem, the west bank and jordan. the last day of his trip he held of joint news conference with king abdallah mary was after about the diplomatic relationship with turkey. >> long said that it is in both the interests of israel and turkey to restore normal relations between two countries that have historically had good ties. it broke down as a consequence of the flotilla incidents. we asked about why this rupture has to be amended. they don't have to agree on everything for them to come around a whole range of common interests and common concerns. during my visit in appeared that the timing was good for that conversation to take place. i discussed it with prime minister benjamin netanyahu and both of us agreed to, and fortunately they were able to begin the process of rebuilding normal relations between two important countries in the region. this is a work in progress. it is just beginning. there will still be significant disagreements between turkey and israel not just on the palestinian q

conor powell in the middle east bureau in jerusalem. first of all who is behind the car bomb, the car bomb hit on the rebel commander? >> reporter: so often is the case, bill, really tough to get accurate information coming out of syria. but it is not clear if it was the syrian regime that launched this assassination attempt or if it was sort of opposition rebel fact -- faction that may have launched attack on the colonel of the he is reportedly in stable condition in turkey after the attack. he was one of the original founders of the free syrian army. it has been somewhat marge alized last several months. the colonel was never able to. the attack occurred while touring a rebel area. there is the possibility that there was internal rebel politics at play though rebels say this was an attack carried out by the syrian regime, bill. is very if. bill: we mentioned the opposition leader has resigned. conor, do we know why? >> reporter: well, no. again, a lot of confusion. now the leader is a leading opposition figure. he is very well-respect

connor powell watching this from our middle east bureau in jerusalem.we know if the peacekeepers, have they been harmed? are they in immediate danger? what can we report, conor? >> reporter: well, bill, talks are already underway to release the 21 filipino peacekeepers taken by rebel leaders. they claim responsibility calling the filipinos, quote, their guest. it appears the peacekeepers are well-treated. rebels say they will hold onto the u.n. peacekeepers until the syrian government withdraws the troops from the village east of the golan heights. free syrian army are working with the local militias to try to release these philippine know peacekeepers. bill, it does appear and there is lot of hope they will be released next 24, 48 hours. bill: conor, who is holding them, are they working on behalf of the assad regime or the other side? >> reporter: these are rebels. they are anti-assad forces t appears to be a local militia in the southern part of the syria. these are not people connected to the assad regime. the u.n. has been more critical of assad re

east. president obama visiting the hall of names in jerusalem and later laid wreaths at the hall of remembrance. the hall of names is a memorial to each and every jewish person that died during the holocaust. president obama remarking on his visit after signing his name to the guest book reserved for dignitaries. >> we see how this place, this accounting of horror is in the end a source of hope. for here we learn that we are never powerless. >> the president then left israel to tour the church of nativity in bethlehem with pal stin nan mahmoud abbas. that church is considered to be the oldest living christian church in the world. president obama will soon be on his way to jordan. >>> the u.s. supreme court takes on the issue of same-sex marriage next week. in preparation, supporters in the bay area are speaking out, including a 12-year-old boy. "today in the bay's" christie smith has more on what he has to say about his own family. good morning. >> reporter: chief justice john roberts will consider two historic case ons the fate of gay marriage and also may be considering a letter from a 12-yea

. >> jon: president obama speaking to a primarily jewish audience in jerusalem on thursday, be a major trip to the middle east which had some critics in the media asking, why is he there? so, jim, let's get your answer on that. is it part of the charm offensive overseas? >> and netanyahu that should be a tougher sell. it should have happened in the first term and various reasons they didn't. and now they're doing it now. not that they offer, but checking off the box. a moment between the president and netanyahu. and a strange transplant of the american to the west bank of israel. it's syria, egypt, iran and the media is having a tough time dealing with. >> gregg: and judy, you're back and are the media buying with what the president is trying to accomplish? >> israel, jon, it was a total love fest, i would have said, jim, exactly what you said before i went, but to see the outpouring of affection for this president and for what he represents, it was truly astonishing. >> not netanyahu. >> no, it was interesting both men have clearly figured out and several commentators noted they need each other and it's goin

east since taking office. we are joined now from jerusalem. what's the mood there ahead of this visit? >> hi there, kelly. both israelis and palestinians aren't expecting much from president obama's visit. the obama administration made it clear that it's a listening tour and he'll speak to israeli and palestinian officials to get the lay of the land of where they see the future of the region but that being said, secretary of state john kerry is also here at the moment in jerusalem. he will be making these meetings and these rounds as well. he'll stay in the region after president obama leaves. he'll come back to jerusalem, speak to israeli officials about possibly starting peace talks -- starting peace talks again to find resolution when it comes to israeli/palestinian issue. it will be interesting to see what president obama says tomorrow when he speaks in front of hundreds of israeli students. he's made some strong words in the past condemning settlement construction in the occupied territories of the palestinians in the west bank. interesting to see what he has to say to these israeli students tomorrow

after all the public events and speeches it was a quiet gesture in a jerusalem cemetery that may have defined his visit to middle east. president put a stone down from m king kick washington memorial on the grave of isak rabin saying it's harder to embark on peace. he arrived in jordan this morning. the president was greeted by jordan's king abdullah at the royal palace. they got down to business. during a news conference, he said he is worried about syria's future once president assad leaves office. >> i'm very concerned becoming an enclave for extremists because they thrive in chaos. >> dan: during his visit to israel he helped broker a phone call between benjamin netanyahu and his turkish counterpart to restore diplomatic relations. netanyahu apologized for the deaths of nine turkish activists and naval raid on gaza bound flotilla. he helped arrange that call before leaving israel. palestinians are clearly frustrated. they say president obama's message of hope is empty, just words. the story now from our reporter. >> president obama's last trip took him to bethlehem. highlight of this trip that has strengthened bo

. >> woodruff: next, to thmiddle east, whe presidentbamais headed tonight he'll make three stops: jerusalem, ramallah on the west bank, and amman, jordan. last night, we explored fractures in israel's new coalition government. tonight, we turn to the political and ideological split among palestinians. margaret warner reports. >> warner: this is not your typical afterschool program, it's paramilitary training for palestinian high school students in gaza. it was instituted by hamas, the militant islamist movement ruling this impoverished district which israel withdrew from in 2005. gaza is home to 1.7 million palestinians packed into an area the size of atlanta >> i'm here to learn how the use weapons. the program teaches us to defend ourselvess, to organize in school and everywhere. >> warner: it's offered in all of gaza's high schools, it's further evidence of hamas's entrenched grip on power here. after winning a majority in palestinian elections in 2006 hamas violently expel fad a from gaza. fatah is the older establish secular party of mahmoud abbas, also known as abu mazen which now run

sell on his views not only on iran, but also on the palestinians and the greater middle east issues here in jerusaleml battle. now a current poll in israel shows only 10% of israelis say they, quote, like the president. back to you in new york. >> steve: lee land vittert live where he's talking about how the president is launching a charm offensive in israel. this on the heels of a charm offensive he's been waging here in washington, d.c. for a couple weeks. >> brian: right. having said all that, listen to what the president was caught on microphone just about an hour ago whispering to netanyahu as he landed. >> these last two days. that's nice to get away from congress. [ laughter ] >> brian: oh, thanks. >> alisyn: you can imagine he must feel that way. it must be nice to take a vacation, but i like the big smile. it's good to get away from congress and then the smile. >> steve: is that a gaffe or just a laugh? >> alisyn: that's a laugh. >> brian: riotous or twitter us. gaffe or laugh? >> steve: just use f's. >> alisyn: benjamin netanyahu seemed to like it. >> brian: i will say this, if the presiden