U.S. Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks in front of a display of rockets that landed in southern Israel, during a visit to Sderot, southern Israel, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Obama pledged Wednesday that as president he would preserve the close ties between the United States and Israel, and that the Jewish state's security would be a top priority in his administration. (AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool)