Sneek Peak: Obama in Israel

July 22, 2008— -- Barack Obama's next stop on his overseas tour is Israel where he will focus on the complicated issue of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Upon landing in Tel Aviv late Tuesday night, Obama said he will address "profound security issues" that affect the United States and Israel and reaffirm the relationship between the two nations.

"I am looking forward to spending the day tomorrow not only traveling around the country but also having discussions with Israelis leadership about some of the profound security issues that both the U.S. and Israel are going to have to confront in the years to come," the presumptive Democratic nominee said. "I want input and insight from Israel's leaders about how they see the current situation. I'll share some of my ideas."

"The most important idea for me to reaffirm is the historic, special relationship between the United States and Israel. One that cannot be broken, one that I have affirmed through out my career, and one that I would intend to not only continue but actually strengthen in an Obama administration."

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report that Obama has a packed schedule of meetings in Israel Wednesday. He has sit-downs with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Perez, as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

Obama will travel to Ramallah where he will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. From there he heads to the southern Israeli town of Sderot where he will meet with a family affected by violence there.

Obama will also visit Yad Vashem, the Israeli memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is possible that he will visit the Western Wall. John McCain paid a visit to the site when he was in Jerusalem in the spring.

Tivo Alert! ABC News' Charles Gibson sits down with Obama in Jerusalem for an interview that will air on Good Morning America and World News on Wednesday.

John McCain holds a town hall meeting and press availability in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The presumptive Republican nominee sits down for an interview with ABC News' David Wright in the Keystone State.

McCain continued his stateside barrage against Obama on foreign policy and today used some of his strongest words when talking about Obama's judgment compared to his own, ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports.

"This is a clear choice that the American people have.  I had the courage and the judgment to say that I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war.  It seems to me that Sen. Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign," McCain said in Rochester, New Hampshire today around the same time Sen. Obama was speaking with reporters overseas.

GOP Officials Talk Strategy in Battleground States

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan kicks off a three week "Victory 2008 Tour" on Wednesday and hits the road with McCain Political Director and Deputy Campaign Manager Mike DuHaime, RNC Political Director Rich Beeson, and RNC Strategy Director Bill Steiner. The group will meet with state Republican leaders to discuss strategy and discuss John McCain and the Republican Party's strategy for victory this fall.

Duncan and Co. will go to Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina to discuss GOP registration, microtargeting, GOTV and fundraising efforts leading up to Election Day.

"The point of the trip is to rally the troops and see our grassroots operations firsthand. Elections aren't won inside the Beltway," an RNC official said. "This is a good time to take stock and get set to turn out the vote. We have a strong grassroots operation in place and will be ready."

McCain: Turning on his "base"?

The McCain campaign, frustrated with what they perceive as over-the-top glowing coverage of Obama on his overseas trip and so far in the general election campaign, released a video today mocking the press. The video uses clips of several reporters (with a heavy dose of MSNBC's Chris Matthews) fawning over Obama on air.

ABC News' Rick Klein notes that this criticism from the McCain campaign is "particularly striking" given that McCain "has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with journalists."

"In 2000 and 2008, his Republican rivals accused members of the media of being too close to McCain, and McCain once jokingly referred to the political press corps as 'my base,'"Klein reports.

On the campaign front. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 10:00 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

-- 11:45 am ET: Speaks to members of the media, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

BARACK OBAMA

-- Traveling abroad in Jerusalem, Israel.

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 10:45 am ET: Signs H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 improvement Act of 2008.

-- 1:10 pm ET: Attends defense department briefing with Secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon.

-- 3:25 pm ET: Participates in photo-op with 2008 Boys and GirlsNation delegates at the White House.

-- 3:45 pm ET: Signs proclamation in honor of the 60th anniversary of Armed Forces integration, White House.

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COMABC News' Jan Crawford Greenburg: McCain's VP: An Early Pick? LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller: Illinois Obama and the Temple of Hercules (And Other Obama Adventures Coming Soon to a TV Screen Near You) LINK

ABC News' Jennifer Parker: Bush a Double-Edged Sword for McCain LINK

ABC News' Jennifer Duck and Sunlen Miller: McCain: Obama More Worried About '08 Campaign Than Losing a War LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama on the Surge: "Had Those Political Factors Not Occurred, I Think That My Assessment Would Have Been Correct" LINK

ABC News' Mark Mooney: McCain Laughs Off Obama Trip Envy, Considers 'Bold Choice' for Veep LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Hitches a Royal Ride LINK

ABC News' Terry Moran: Obama Won't 'Rubber Stamp' Military Decisions LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Wants To Be Absolutely Clear on Who Is Israel's Friend LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: McCain Campaign Mocks Media's Relationship With Obama LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain Hits Obama for Lack of Military Experience LINK

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos: Bottom Line: Obama Trip off to a Good Start LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Ron Paul Gets Bigger Soapbox for Shadow Convention LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain Complains About the Media LINK

ABC News' Gary Langer: Taking Aim at the Military Vote LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

McCain Seeks Recognition on Surge Success

McCain: "Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." LINK

McCain Ad Pokes Fun at Media's Obama Craze

A new ad from the McCain camp criticizes the news media for biased coverage. LINK

Obama in Middle East

ABC's Jake Tapper reports from Amman, Jordan. LINK

Obama at the Citadel

Sens. Obama, Hagel and Reed tour Amman, Jordan. LINK

McCain NH Town Hall Meetings

ABC's Ron Clairborne follows the GOP Candidate. LINK

Obama Defends Position, Explains Iraq ImprovementSen. Obama says gives the surge strategy only partial credit for gains in Iraq. LINK

Exclusive: Obama's Historic Visit

Barack Obama talks about his unprecedented trip to Iraq. LINK

The Bottom Line on Obama's Trip

George Stephanopoulos assesses the presidential hopeful's progress. LINK

Obama's Mideast Tour Continues

The senator arrives in Jordan today with a stop in Israel to follow. LINK

Obama's Hot Zone Tour

Jake Tapper is following the Democratic candidate in Aman , Jordan. LINK

McCain vs. Obama on Iraq

George Stephanopolous examines how Obama's Iraq trip will affect voters. LINK

Obama in Iraq

ABC's Terry Moran talks with the Democratic candidate on withdrawal timetables. LINK