Obama plans visit to Israel in spring: official

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama plans to visit Israel this spring, his first trip to the Jewish state since taking office, a White House official said.

Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the matter in a telephone call on January 28, the official said.

"The start of the president's second term and the formation of a new Israeli government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Israel and to discuss the way forward on a broad range of issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Syria," the official said.

"Additional details about the trip - including the dates of travel - will be released at a later time."