When Air Force One landed at Tel Aviv airport, the president said he had come to Jerusalem and Ramallah to listen to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

BBC: Frank words from Obama in Israel

Israel's defence ministry said the Ofek 9 was launched from Palmachim air force base on its south coast near Tel Aviv.

BBC: Israel launches Ofek 9 spy satellite

Tel-Oren was a pilot in the Israeli air force and can recall missions he might rather have not have flown when he was a pilot.

CNN: Doing military's dangerous, dull and dirty work