From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Peres welcomes Obama to President’s Residence
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleBack from the airport, ToI’s Matti Friedman has filed a color piece: “The receiving line included a few American ladies in power outfits and carefully arranged Beltway hairdos, Cabinet ministers, and local religious dignitaries in a colorful collection of hats and costumes — an Armenian in a pointed black hood, a Catholic in a pink robe, and a man in an unseasonal fur hat who might have been Circassian; no one seemed quite sure. Obama and Netanyahu smiled at each other and shared a few jokes. In case anyone was wondering, they are best friends.”
Channel 2’s Rina Matzliah says the whole goal of the trip from Obama’s point of view has been “to show the people of Israel that he’s with us.” Hence the words of Hebrew at the airport, the lengthy chats on the welcome line, the meetings with Israeli kids at the President’s Residence any minute, and the main speech in Jerusalem to students tomorrow.
The president’s motorcade is on the move. Peres, waiting, is shaking hands with the young children who have been waiting for hours for this moment.
The presidential limo drives into the residence. Here’s Obama. A hug for Peres. The kids, waving US and Israeli flags, sing “Hevenu Shalom” — “We’ve brought peace to you.”
Obama shakes hands with the kids, and Peres draws him in to pose for photos with the children.
The Times of Israel Community.