BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel's security minister on Sunday said he expected more clashes with Palestinians ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama, Israeli media reported.

"The Palestinians have not said the final word yet and we expect that there will be attempts to take advantage of the upcoming events, like the visit by Barack Obama, in order to continue the violence," Yitzhak Aharonovich said, the settler news site Arutz Sheva reported.

Aharonovich also said Jewish violence against Palestinians would be handled with "a strong arm," speaking at an Israeli police conference in the West Bank city of Hebron.