Romney is in Israel

Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency, landed in Israel Saturday night for a short visit.

Romney's itinerary will include meetings with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

He will also meet Salaam Fayyad, of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Romney's visit is seen as an effort to boost support for his candidacy among Jewish and pro-Israel voters. "Israel deserves better treatment than it has received thus far," he told Yisrael Hayom. "If I am president, I will treat you as one treats an ally and a friend."

Romney also alluded to President Barack Obama's speech in the United Nations in May, in which he said that the 1948 armistice lines should serve as a basis for negotiations between Israel and the PA. "If I am elected, I will not solve disagreements with the government of Israel through insulting confrontations in international forums," he said.

Romney will also visit the Kotel.

Sources close to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas voiced disappointment with the fact that Romney did not schedule a meeting with Abbas as well. Sources close to Romney said that his tight schedule allows Romney to meet just one Palestinian representative.