From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Obama visits the Middle East and a tough political challenge.

Hello again, I'm Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most. Barack Obama threaded his way through a minefield today,

from Jerusalem's Holocaust Memorial to Ramallah on the West Bank. In Israel, John McCain

is a known quantity and there's anxiety about what changes Obama might bring. Change is just

what the Palestinians hope for. On to the Point, Obama reaffirmed

the special relationship with Israel and promised to work toward a Palestinian state. Did he get the

reactions his campaign was looking for? What's the likely impact on American voters? On reporters' notebook

later on, a Texas oil man endorses wind power. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D.

and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Warren Alney back with To the Point.

Barack Obama confronted one of his toughest political challenges today with visits to Israel and the

West Bank. On To the Point, we'll hear what he said, how both sides reacted, and we'll talk about

how American voters might be seeing it. On reporter's notebook, Republican oil and gas magnate,

T. Boone Pickens is an unlikely hero to Democrats and environmentalists.

It's all about wind power. First, this news update, the Treasury Department says rescuing

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost American taxpayers $25 billion. That's created new anxiety

over the housing market. Today, the Bush White House dropped its threat to veto legislation

designed to bolster that market. James Politi reports from Washington for the Financial Times,

and James, good to have you back on our program. Thanks for having me. The White House said today,

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