Obama will receive award during visit to Israel

Obama will receive award during visit to Israel

"President Obama has brought a unique and significant contribution to strengthen the State of Israel and the security of its people," according to an Israeli statement

Jerusalem - Barack Obama will be the first American president to receive the active "Presidential Medal" from the hands of the Israeli head of state, Shimon Peres, during his visit next month, Israel  made the announcement on Monday from the president's office.

"President Obama has brought a unique and significant contribution to strengthen the State of Israel and the security of its people," according to the statement.

"Barack Obama is a true friend of Israel and always has been since the beginning of his public life. As president of the United States, he stood by Israel in the time of crisis," he added.

This Presidential Medal is given to individuals or organizations that have contributed to Israeli society and the image of Israel in the world.

The official date of the visit of Obama, as the first American presidential recipient, has not yet been officially announced, but the Israeli media and Palestinian leaders speak of a stay between the 20th and 22nd of March in Jerusalem and Ramallah (West Bank).

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the discussions will focus on the Iranian nuclear program, the conflict in Syria and the peace negotiations with the Palestinians, which have been stalled since September 2010.

Having ignored his campaign promises to voters about meeting with disliked
 foreign leaders, Barack Obama has done much to fight enemies targeted by the Israeli establishment.  Rather than departing from the previous administration's interventionist policies, the interventionism has only increased with the Obama administration.


Translated from the Portuguese version by:

Lisa Karpova
Pravda.Ru