Palin Arrives in Israel, Is Scheduled To Meet Netanyahu

By JTA March 21, 2011

Potential 2012 presidential contender Sarah Palin arrived in Israel for what is being called a private visit.

Palin, who was the Republican nominee for vice president in the 2008 elections and served as the governor of Alaska, landed in Israel Sunday on her way back to the United States from a speech she delivered to a business group in India.

Palin and her husband, Todd, visited the Western Wall on Sunday night, including a tour of the Western Wall tunnels led by Rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitch, and accompanied by Likud lawmaker Danny Danon.

Palin did not walk on the Western Wall plaza, so as not to disturb those reading from the Megillat Esther in observance of Purim in Jerusalem, Ynet reported.

Palin is scheduled to have dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, on Monday, before returning to the United States.

“I’m thankful to be able to travel to Israel on my way back to the U.S.,” Palin said in a statement on her official SarahPAC website. “As the world confronts sweeping changes and new realities, I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the key issues facing his country, our ally Israel.”

Several possible Republican candidates for the 2012 U.S. presidential election have visited Israel in recent weeks, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. All of them also met with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

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