Afghanistan and Iraq are two of the most dangerous countries in the world. Yet to Barack Obama, it could well be Israel that has the highest risk profile during his tour of the Middle East and Europe.

The Democratic candidate for the US presidency arrived in Jerusalem last night after visiting the two warzones and a brief stop-over in Jordan. Today he is to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and travel to the West Bank and Sderot, the Israeli town that has been the target of frequent rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. He has meetings with Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.