JERUSALEM (AP) ? Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney confronts some of the worlds most difficult peace and security challenges as he looks to demonstrate to Jewish and evangelical voters that hes a better friend to Israel than President Barack Obama.

Romney plans a speech at the end of a day of meetings in Jerusalem with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Romneys looking to burnish his foreign policy credentials and prove his mettle as a possible commander in chief.

His trip, however, got off to an undiplomatic start in Britain, where he made the mistake of criticizing the countrys Olympic Games, raising the hackles of his hosts.

Romney plans to end his day in Israel with a speech near the Old City.

By Terra/AP