Palin to visit Israel

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JERUSALEM, March 17 (UPI) -- Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate, plans to visit Israel next week, officials said.

Palin accompanied by her husband Todd is scheduled to arrive for a two-day visit Sunday.

During her short stay she will meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other government officials affiliated with the right as well as members of the Christian community, the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.

Palin will also visit Jerusalem's Old City, the Masada and Christian holy sites in Nazareth, the newspaper said.

A source involved in the preparations told the newspaper Palin is not interested in meeting many political or government officials during her visit.

"It is her first visit here and the aim of the visit is to become acquainted with the country," the unidentified source said adding Palin plans a lengthier visit to the country in the future

Preparations for the "private" visit have been under way for some time, the paper said, noting that after Israel, Palin plans to head for India and other countries in the Far East.