West Bank – Mitt Romney’s assertion that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital is absolutely unacceptable, a senior Palestinian official said Monday, voicing the strongest Palestinian criticism yet of the Republican presidential candidate.
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Palestinian officials had largely maintained diplomatic silence during Romney’s current visit to the region, even as the candidate embraced Israeli positions and in an apparent snub, avoided meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The U.S. is the dominant broker in efforts – paralyzed since 2008 – to set up a Palestinian state through negotiations with Israel, and Palestinian leaders do not want to antagonize key players, including Romney.
However, Romney’s comments on Sunday about Jerusalem prompted a strong response.
The Palestinians want to establish a capital in east Jerusalem, captured and annexed by Israel in 1967. Most of the world, including the U.S., does not recognize the annexation. The U.S. and others keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.
On Sunday, Romney said flat out that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and strongly suggested he would move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem if he were president, supporting two key Israeli demands.
Saeb Erekat, an Abbas aide, said Romney’s comments about Jerusalem were “absolutely unacceptable,” adding that “such statements and policy will push the region toward extremists.”
Erekat noted that Romney’s positions on Jerusalem go against long-standing U.S. policy.
“At the end of the day, the U.S. has interests in this region, it has embassies in 57 Arab and Muslim countries,” he said. “I don’t think they will sacrifice everything for such statements, mere disturbing statements that will strengthen extremists in the region.”
The fate of Jerusalem is one of the main sticking points in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not give up any part of the city, taking a harder line than two of his predecessors who were ready to discuss a partition of the city.
Mr. Erekat needn’t worry. Mr. Romney is just “kissing up” to the Jewish voters BEFORE the elections. After the elections it will be business as usual – regardless who wins.
Hey Erikut so don’t vote for him
“… such statements and policy will push the region toward extremists. …”
If you were really concerned about inflammatory statements causing extremism, you would change the curriculum in Palestinian schools. These institutions are breeding the next generation of Jihadis and Shahids. Until this situation is changed, how can anyone take you seriously?
Romney lost my vote, let’s go obama 2012
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, whether the US admits it or not. If telling the truth is so damaging, it’s no wonder there is no peace.
Dear Mr. ALTERG,
You sound quite Islamic or peace-now-ic to me.
Do you believe that the Pals are justified in their demand that the Jewish Capital not be recognized anywhere in pre-1967 (New) Jewish Jerusalem?
Whatever, he will probably not move forward and change the US embassy location, like his predecessor but at least he will treat Israel and its State with dignity and respect, unlike Mr Obama. Ulitmately, we don’t need America, what we only need to seek is Ha’shem ‘Itbarach! We need to massively go back to Him, our Shield. The month of Av’ is a great month to “repair” ourselves before we take advantage of the monht of Ellul to repent and mend our ways, with Hashem’s help.
The Palestinians are the biggest hypocrites. The Arab press continuously portrays Jews as monkeys and sub-human, along with stories of blood libels; they also publish the most horrendous bigoted cartoons, showing Jews with hook noses, and other slimy caricatures; in addition, the curriculum in many Arab schools shows Jews in a very unfavorable light. Therefore, for Saeb Erekat to call Romney’s remarks “racist”, is similar to the pot calling the kettle black!