Daniel Shapiro, the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, said in Jerusalem this week that President Barack Obama hopes to visit Israel.

Shapiro, 42, who is  Jewish and speaks Hebrew and Arabic, presented his credentials to Israeli President Shimon Peres on Aug. 3. Shapiro was part of Obama’s election campaign and has since been involved in Israeli-Palestinian contacts.

He told Israel’s Channel 10 that Obama hopes to visit Israel, adding that he would “very much enjoy a visit by the president” but that no details have been worked out. He also told Israel’s Chan-nel 2 that the United States is trying to restart peace talks and that, while hopeful, “it’s not certain that we will be able to achieve a formula.” — ap