tonight to tell us about it. john, a lot of speculation about what kind of reception the president might get in israel, how ordinary israelis, how leaders might react to him there. how did it go overall? reporter: anderson, i spent a lot of time in this region so you know what seems like concrete under your feet can suddenly turn to quicksand. the president will head home tomorrow feeling pretty happy especially on the point you just raised, reception among the israeli people. he has a very mixed reputation if you look at the polling. spi i spent a lot of time talking to every day israelis. because especial especially because of the cairo speech early on, maybe he would come out in favor of the palestinians when it comes to the peace issue. all the cultural and historic sites he visited as a tourist but a tourist with a point won a lot of great headlines, lot of praise from israeli officials. one commentator put it this way, if we re this happy when obama comes, what are we do when t
we now have the answer and chief national correspondent john king tonight to tell us about it. john, a lot of speculation about what kind of reception the president might get in israel, how ordinary israelis, how leaders might react to him there. how did it go overall? reporter: anderson, i spent a lot of time in this region so you know what seems like concrete under your feet can suddenly turn to quicksand. the president will head home tomorrow feeling pretty happy especially on the point you just raised, reception among the israeli people. he has a very mixed reputation if you look at the polling. i spent a lot of time talking to every day israelis. especially because of the cairo speech early on, maybe he would come out in favor of the palestinians when it comes to the peace issue. all the cultural and historic sites he visited as a tourist but a tourist with a point won a lot of great headlines, lot of praise from israeli officials. one commentator put it this way, if we re this
he has a very mixed reputation if you look at the polling. i spent a lot of time talking to every day israelis. especially because of the cairo speech early on, maybe he would come out in favor of the palestinians when it comes to the peace issue. all the cultural and historic sites he visited as a tourist but a tourist with a point won a lot of great headlines, lot of praise from israeli officials. one commentator put it this way, if we re this happy when obama comes, what are we do when the messiah comes. obviously the prime minister and the president have never been the best of friends. was this visit any different than usual? reporter: these guys if they re acting deserve academy awards because the frost has melted. these are two men who had not only a frosty relationship but a sometimes bitter relationship in the first term. they were joking with each other, they took their jackets off, they looked casual at the israeli state dinner. they spent a long conversation laughing and
higher level of confidence if they are going to succeed. last question to you, ambassador ross. how cynical are you? do you really believe this trip will really do anything for a lasting peace in the region? i m a congenital optimism. you could not work on this issue for the last 30 years unless you are always convinced something can be done. i m motivated to believe that way. i think the short answer to your question is i don t think this trip will produce a break through, but this trip is very important. there is a public dimension to the trip that relates to how the president connects with the israeli public, but as he addresses the palestinians and jordanians, there is a private issue to the trip. also the peace issue. when the president says he wi wiwil will listen, the point is what are the ideas of each side. not just what the united states can offer, but the ideas of each side and how can we take those
approach to peace. george w. bush didn t go until the eighth year of his presidency, so in the only did he not go in his first term, he didn t go until the beginning. very last year of his second term, so it s not unusual. i think oftentimes presidents go when they think there is a reason to be going. i think in the case of president obama the timing is actually quite good because there s a chance for a new beginning with a new israeli government. the expectations are not high so he can go and can have discussions and connect with the israeli public and talk about what matters to the israeli people which is the threats around iran as well as the peace issue. he can go to jordan where he can talk with king abdullah and focus not only on what jordan sees in the region but particularly the problems with syria. he can go and see president abbas of the palestinians and talk about the future of israelis and palestinians so this is actually i think a moment for him to have a certain value to