Vows support for Israel during Jerusalem visit

Obama was due later to see President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who could be forced out of office by a corruption probe.

8220;I will share some of my ideas. The most important idea for me to reaffirm is the historic and special relationship between the United States and Israel 8212; one that cannot be broken,8221; Obama said on arrival on Tuesday night.

Obama, who faces Republican John McCain in the November election, is struggling to overcome wariness among some Israelis and some Jewish voters in the United States about the strength of his commitment to Israel.

Obama also dismayed Palestinian leaders when he said last month that Jerusalem should be Israel8217;s 8220;undivided8221; capital.

Palestinians want Arab East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, as the capital of a future state. Obama later said he used 8220;poor phrasing8221; when he made the remarks.

The Democratic candidate, an Illinois senator, will visit the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.