NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York City pastor just back from two weeks ministering to Syrian refugees and Palestinians says they aren't expecting much from President Barack Obama's trip to the troubled region.

The Rev. William Devlin says he and a handful of friends delivered food and other items last week to some of the refugees flooding into Jordan to escape Syria's civil war. He says many of them had lost everything, including family members who'd been killed.

Devlin says his group also spent more than a week in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. But he says, "No one really was holding out any hope that the president's visit would change anything."

Obama arrives in Israel on Wednesday. He heads to the West Bank Thursday and plans to visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

In Bethlehem Monday, Palestinians tore down a banner bearing Obama's image, hurled shoes at it and spray painted it with swastikas.

Sound:

%@AP Links

287-w-30-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with the Reverend William Devlin, New York City pastor)--A New York City pastor just back from two weeks ministering to Syrian refugees and Palestinians says they aren't expecting much from President Barack Obama's trip to the troubled region. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (18 Mar 2013)

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289-a-05-(The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, in AP interview)-"would change anything"-The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, says there are low expectations for President Barack Obama's visit. ((cut used in wrap)) (18 Mar 2013)

<> 00:05 "would change anything"

288-a-13-(The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, in AP interview)-"of President Obama"-The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, says there was little interest in President Barack Obama's visit this week. (18 Mar 2013)

<> 00:13 "of President Obama"

291-a-06-(The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, in AP interview)-"protected by God"-The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, says he plans to return to the Syrian border region next month. (18 Mar 2013)

<> 00:06 "protected by God"

290-a-15-(The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, in AP interview)-"have been killed"-The Reverend William Devlin, who just returned from two weeks in the Mideast, says he delivered food, clothing and personal items to refugees from Syria's civil war. (18 Mar 2013)

<> 00:15 "have been killed"

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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