Interested citizens will be able to track President Obama's every move as he embarks on his much - anticipated Israel visit, thanks to a dedicated app.
The US leader is due to spend three days in Israel, arriving on March 20, in his first trip to the Jewish state since he was a presidential candidate in 2008.
In a sign of the importance being given to the visit by the Israeli government, the Prime Minister's Office has released an app enabling people to follow his itinerary, receive live updates, browse official photographs and watch events unfold on live-streamed video.
The free app, which by the time the president arrives will be available in Hebrew, English and Arabic, will be accessible on Apple and Android technology.
"We are prepared for the arrival of hundreds of journalists", said Liran Dan, who is head of Israel's national information directorate. "Our goal is to give [them] the best service possible. Emphasis will be given to providing information via social networks, and to this end, we have launched a PMO (Prime Minister's Office) application for smartphones."
Israel has also launched comprehensive security preparations ahead of the visit, with the Israeli Police Commissioner warning that there would be some upset to the lives of Jerusalem residents. "It is an operation on a national scale," said Yohanan Danino.
When the president arrives, he will be met by senior officials including President Shimon Peres, the IDF chief of staff and the president of Israel's Supreme Court.
The visit, which is expected to involve discussions on the direction of peace talks, will also see President Obama tour sites including the Israel Museum, Ramallah and Mount Herzl, where he will lay a wreath on the grave of Yitzhak Rabin.
