A screenshot from the trailer for President Obama's trip. Photo: Israeli Embassy Youtube

In advance of President Obama’s visit to Israel (already anticipated by a smartphone app released by the Prime Minister’s office and riots from Palestinian Arabs), the Israeli Embassy in America has posted a trailer on YouTube entitled “President Obama Goes to Israel – Official Trailer.” The video utilizes classic web “big-head” animation reminiscent of Jib Jab, lip-synced to clips of speeches from Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a fictional newspaper headline reading “Bibi, Obama: US-Israel Relations STRONGER THAN EVER But What’s Up Behind the Scenes??”

Relations between Obama and Netanyahu have historically been testy, marked by the President’s call for a settlement freeze, and major disagreements over the proper course of action on the Iranian nuclear threat. However, President Obama recently said he has a “terrific, businesslike relationship with Netanyahu”, adding that they “get things done“, despite their differences.  Obama also recently claimed that Iran is “more than a year away” from developing a nuclear weapon, an estimate that Israeli experts do not share.

In Bethlehem, Palestinian Arab protestors drew swastikas on a billboard of President Obama, and a Fatah official declared that “President Obama is not welcome in Ramallah or any Palestinian city. He is an enemy of the Palestinians and Muslims.” The president plans to visit Bethlehem, the formerly Christian city, site of the Church of the Nativity, as part of his new focus on the plight of Middle Eastern Christians