The President

The President's Visit.

March 2013, Israel. President Obama visited Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu in a trip that came after years of relatively strained relations and mistrust between the two administrations.

President Obama flew into Ben Gurion Airport; this is my perspective on the arrival of the U.S. President and the beginning of an official state visit, Obama's only one to Israel.

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U.S. Secret Service Member.

Arranging the set.

Red carpet rolled out. And swept.

U.S Army personnsel "backstage" at the event.

Israeli staffers kibbitz before the show starts.

U.S. Secret Service members.

Israeli Police Media Relations, according to the vests.

An Israeli group waits for the President.

The jetway, at the ready.

Patriarch Theophilos III walks to his position in the greeting line.

This U.S. Marine would escort President Obama from Air Force One to the greeting line.

One of the U.S. Army's Black Hawk helicopters.

Looking at the entrance tent.

A U.S. Secret Service members scans the area. There is an increasing buzz in the crowd as word circultates that Air Force One is close.

A U.S. soldier looks out of his Black Hawk.

Air Force One.

Members of the press capture the President and his team get off the plane.

Israeli women capture the President and his team get off the plane

Not President Obama exiting the plane.

President Obama exiting the plane.

President Obama walks towards the greeting line.

Local leaders wait to greet President Obama.

Local leaders greeting President Obama.

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu walk to their seats. President Peres is at the podium.

PM Natanyahu making jokes, in what was otherwise an expectedly serious speech.

President Obama addessing the crowd.

The leaders of the U.S. and Israel walk away as an Israeli military plays on.

An Israeli first responder from Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross).

U.S. Marshalls waiting for the event to conclude.

The Grand Sacristan, His Eminence Archbishop Sevan Gharibian checks his phone.

Archbishop Suheil Dawani speaks with Patriarch Theophilos III after the event.

President Obama and PM Netanyahu, with their jackets slung over their shoulders, tour Arrow and Iron Dome anti-missile systems, which are joint U.S.-Israel projects.

U.S. Black Hawks prepare to move out.

President Shimon Peres, Presdient Barack Obama, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A sniper packs up his gear.