Obama speaks about the sequester after a meet
Obama speaks about the sequester after a meetReuters

Want to hear U.S. President Barack H. Obama speak, live and in person? You could be one of 20 Israelis chosen for the honor – with a (practically) front-row seat to Obama's speech at Binyanei Ha'uma (Israel Convention Center), set to be the centerpiece of his visit to Israel.

The Israelis will be chosen from among entries on the Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Israel, which wants to hear why Israelis think they deserve to have an opportunity to get an “audience” with Obama. The most creative reasons will win the posting individual an opportunity to see Obama at Binyanei Ha'uma.

The contest started on Sunday afternoon, and within just a few hours there was an irreverent mix of the serious and silly, as is the wont of Israelis. Thus, one poster wrote that he wanted to meet Obama and encourage him to soldier on in brokering a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, while another said he deserved to meet Obama because he would be a good representative of the Jewish people “who loves Obama, as opposed to the Muslim people who hate him.” Several wrote that they wanted to greet Jonathan Pollard, whom they expected Obama to bring with him, while several others wrote that they admired him and loved to hear him speak.

And then there were the Israelis who had “out of the box” thoughts on why they should be chosen – with several saying that it was a “cheap date,” while another saying that Obama's visit next week would coincide with his honeymoon, and that it would make “a great gift” for his new bride. And then there was this: “After all that politicking President Obama will no doubt be thirsty. If I am chosen I promise to bring him a cold bottle of Goldstar,” an Israeli beer.

The Embassy will announce the winners several days before Obama is due to arrive, the Facebook page said.