Obama in the Middle East

A look at how the president spent his time in the region.

Obama Gets Low Marks on Foreign Policy - According to the survey, just 36 percent said they approve of the president's performance on foreign policy, compared to 60 percent who said they disapprove, his worst-ever rating on this issue. (Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters)

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Journey to Jordan - After rounding up his three-day visit to Israel, President Obama visited Jordan to discuss the crisis in neighboring Syria with King Abdullah II. Take a look at how the president spent his time in the historic yet troubled region. — Naeesa Aziz (Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)

Church of the Nativity - On his last day in Israel, President Obama traveled to Bethlehem in the West Bank to visit the Church of the Nativity alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Photo: Atef Safadi-Pool/Getty images)

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Church of the Nativity - On his last day in Israel, President Obama traveled to Bethlehem in the West Bank to visit the Church of the Nativity alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Photo: Atef Safadi-Pool/Getty images)

Protesters Pop Up - While the president was en route to The Church of the Nativity, Palestinian Police struggled to hold back protesters on the side of the road. The crowd held signs that read: "Gringo, return to your colony" and "US supports Israeli injustice."(Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/Getty images)

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Protesters Pop Up - While the president was en route to The Church of the Nativity, Palestinian Police struggled to hold back protesters on the side of the road. The crowd held signs that read: "Gringo, return to your colony" and "US supports Israeli injustice."(Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/Getty images)

Stone of Peace - Obama placed a stone from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the grave of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, symbolizing both King and Rabin's commitment to peace. (Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO via Getty Images)

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Stone of Peace - Obama placed a stone from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the grave of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, symbolizing both King and Rabin's commitment to peace. (Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO via Getty Images)

Hall of Names - Obama visited the Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum with Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Israel's Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev and Israel's President Shimon Peres. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

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Hall of Names - Obama visited the Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum with Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Israel's Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev and Israel's President Shimon Peres. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

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Last Respects - Marines laid a wreath at the grave of Theodore Herzl, the Zionist icon, on behalf of President Obama. (Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO via Getty Images)

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Last Respects - Marines laid a wreath at the grave of Theodore Herzl, the Zionist icon, on behalf of President Obama. (Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO via Getty Images)

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A Walk With History - On Day Two, Obama's first stop was to the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls. Analysts say Obama's visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls was a subtle indication of American support for the Jews' ties to the land.

Land for Palestine - During a speech to Israeli university students on Day Two of his trip, President Obama urged the young people to seek peace."The Palestinian people's right to self-determination and justice must ... be recognized," Obama said. "Put yourself in their shoes — look at the world through their eyes. It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, and lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements of her parents every single day."

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Land for Palestine - During a speech to Israeli university students on Day Two of his trip, President Obama urged the young people to seek peace."The Palestinian people's right to self-determination and justice must ... be recognized," Obama said. "Put yourself in their shoes — look at the world through their eyes. It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, and lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements of her parents every single day."

A Matzo Moment - Obama stopped by a technology expo and sampled a matzo (unleavened bread traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Passover) served by a "Robot Waiter" designed to assist elderly or disabled people living alone.The creation was made by Israeli junior high school students.

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A Matzo Moment - Obama stopped by a technology expo and sampled a matzo (unleavened bread traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Passover) served by a "Robot Waiter" designed to assist elderly or disabled people living alone.The creation was made by Israeli junior high school students.

State Dinner - President Obama and his delegation were invited to a State dinner with Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet at the close of Day Two.

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State Dinner - President Obama and his delegation were invited to a State dinner with Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet at the close of Day Two.

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Obama Tours Israel - President Barack Obama spent three days in Israel last week, mending diplomatic fences and declaring the U.S.’s unwavering support for the Middle Eastern ally, calling the U.S. Israel's "strongest ally and your greatest friend." (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Mending Fences - The visit to Israel was President Obama's first since taking office. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Strong Start - From the tarmac of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport Obama declared, "As I begin my second term as president, Israel is the first stop on my first foreign trip. This is no accident … I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds 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.”(Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

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Strong Start - From the tarmac of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport Obama declared, "As I begin my second term as president, Israel is the first stop on my first foreign trip. This is no accident … I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds 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.”(Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Motivation - In his opening statement from the airport, Obama explained that the U.S. stands with Israel because the nations “share a common story — patriots determined “to be a free people in our land, pioneers who forged a nation, heroes who sacrificed to preserve our freedom, and immigrants from every corner of the world who renew constantly our diverse societies.”(Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Motivation - In his opening statement from the airport, Obama explained that the U.S. stands with Israel because the nations “share a common story — patriots determined “to be a free people in our land, pioneers who forged a nation, heroes who sacrificed to preserve our freedom, and immigrants from every corner of the world who renew constantly our diverse societies.”(Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Opening Act - After Obama leaves, U.S. defense secretary Chuck Hagel will visit Israel next month to meet with his new Israeli counterpart, Moshe Yaalon. (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Opening Act - After Obama leaves, U.S. defense secretary Chuck Hagel will visit Israel next month to meet with his new Israeli counterpart, Moshe Yaalon. (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Opening Negotiations? - While the president and the White House have refused to name any foreign policy ambitions for the visit, some say Obama’s trip precludes a fresh attempt at Israeli/Palestine peace negotiations.  (Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO via Getty Images)

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Opening Negotiations? - While the president and the White House have refused to name any foreign policy ambitions for the visit, some say Obama’s trip precludes a fresh attempt at Israeli/Palestine peace negotiations.  (Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO via Getty Images)

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Limo Snafu - An early snag in the diplomatic visit came when one of the limousines in Obama's motorcade broke down after it was mistakenly filled with diesel fuel.A replacement limo was sent from neighboring Jordan. (Photo: Abir Sultan-Pool/Getty Images)

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Limo Snafu - An early snag in the diplomatic visit came when one of the limousines in Obama's motorcade broke down after it was mistakenly filled with diesel fuel.A replacement limo was sent from neighboring Jordan. (Photo: Abir Sultan-Pool/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Abir Sultan-Pool/Getty Images

Strengthening Roots - President Obama kicked off his three-day tour of Israel on Wednesday, marking his first presidential trip to the nation. Obama also said that the U.S. is investigating whether chemical weapons have fallen into the hands of a Syrian militant group who has threatened Israel's security in the past. On Wednesday, Obama planted a Magnolia tree from the White House in Jerusalem with Israeli President Shimon Peres. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Magnolia Tree = Olive Branch? - President Obama brought a magnolia tree from the U.S. as a diplomatic gift for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which was planted in a ceremony Wednesday. But it wasn’t long before the blossoming bush was promptly dug up after the Agriculture Ministry complained that all plants brought into the country must be checked. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Iron Dome - Obama took time to inspect Israel’s U.S.-backed Iron Dome missile defense system.The president called the U.S. investments in support for the Iron Dome System, “one of the clearest manifestations of our support for Israel and its security.”The Dome is a mobile air defense system built to protect civilians by intercepting and destroying short range rockets and shells. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Iron Dome - Obama took time to inspect Israel’s U.S.-backed Iron Dome missile defense system.The president called the U.S. investments in support for the Iron Dome System, “one of the clearest manifestations of our support for Israel and its security.”The Dome is a mobile air defense system built to protect civilians by intercepting and destroying short range rockets and shells. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Just in Time - On Day One of Obama’s visit, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem uploaded new footage showing Israeli soldiers arresting Palestinian children, some as young as eight. B'Tselem demanded the immediate release of some of the children it claims are still detained.(Photo: REUTERS/ Mussa Qawasma)

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Just in Time - On Day One of Obama’s visit, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem uploaded new footage showing Israeli soldiers arresting Palestinian children, some as young as eight. B'Tselem demanded the immediate release of some of the children it claims are still detained.(Photo: REUTERS/ Mussa Qawasma)

Show Out - Palestinian activists also used Obama’s visit as an opportunity to bring attention to their cause, erecting nearly 15 tents on disputed lands that Israel has annexed for development.(Photo: AP Photo/Adel Hana)

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Show Out - Palestinian activists also used Obama’s visit as an opportunity to bring attention to their cause, erecting nearly 15 tents on disputed lands that Israel has annexed for development.(Photo: AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Peace in the Middle East - In what was widely viewed as a successful trip to the Middle East, Obama reassured Israel, offered support for an independent Palestine and helped resolve a three-year dispute between Turkey and Israel. (Photo: Uri Lenz-Pool/Getty Images)

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Full Court Press - The leaders closed day one with a press conference where each answered exactly four questions from American and Israeli journalists. Both Obama and Netanyahu agreed that both nations support a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Photo: Uri Lenz-Pool/Getty Images)