Obama vows to tighten Israel ties as marathon talks begin

White House hopeful Barack Obama vowed on Wednesday to tighten US bonds with Israel as he began an intense day of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, a key moment in his international campaign swing.

The Democratic White House hopeful was also to tour the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and to take a helicopter tour of Israel's cramped topography, a rite of passage for potential US leaders.

Obama, who flew in from Jordan and Iraq late on Tuesday, opened his day with a meeting at his Jerusalem hotel with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, the first engagement on a presidential-style schedule.

He was later due to see Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and to travel to Ramallah in the West Bank to consult Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

Later Wednesday, Obama was also due in Sderot, a southern Israeli town that has long been in the firing line of rockets and mortars from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

After touching down at Tel Aviv airport following a short flight from Jordan, Obama made a brief statement, saying it was "wonderful to be back in Israel."