Obama to visit Israel in spring

David Jackson, USA TODAY | USATODAY

President Obama will visit Israel this spring, though specific dates haven't been nailed down.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama discussed the visit in a Jan. 28 phone call with newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As part of the trip, Obama will also travel to the West Bank and Jordan.

Details "will be released at a later time," Carney said.

Israel's Channel 10 reported that the trip is scheduled for March 20, reported the Associated Press.

Obama visited Israel as a presidential candidate in 2008, but has not been back as president.

The president and Netanyahu have disputed aspects of Middle East policy. Netanyahu saw his political position weakened after his party did worse than expected in the recent Israeli elections.

Said Carney: "The start of the president's second term and the formation of a new Israeli government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Israel and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of issues of mutual concern, including, of course, Iran and Syria."