| An Israeli protester chants slogans as he holds a placard during a visit by U.S. Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to the southern Israeli town Sderot, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Obama pledged Wednesday that as president he would preserve the close ties between the United States and Israel, and that the Jewish state's security would be a top priority in his administration. Hebrew placard reads the same as English one. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) |