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In May 2011 speech, Netanyahu contradicts Romney's controversial remarks
Netanyahu Identified Palestinian Economic Growth As Key To Peace
Benjy Sarlin
Mitt Romney touted Israel’s higher GDP as compared to the Palestinian territories’ as evidence of the US ally’s cultural superiority (and perhaps a little divine providence), but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pretty explicit about linking Palestinian economic woes to the occupation.
In a speech to the United States Congress in May 2011, Netanyahu devoted a significant passage towards what he called the “booming” Palestinian economy, a development he attributed specifically to an easing of Israeli restrictions on movement and business. He suggested that peace would bring even stronger growth.
Here’s a portion of Netanyahu’s speech, via the Council on Foreign Relations:
While Romney’s speech boasted of Israel’s economic strength, it made no mention to the Palestinians’ lack of a sovereign state or, as Netanyahu acknowledged, the economic impact of having to navigate a maze of checkpoints and other barriers in addition to the basic disruption of longstanding internal and external conflicts.
- more -
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/netanyahu-romney-israel-palestine-economy.php
Benjy Sarlin
Mitt Romney touted Israel’s higher GDP as compared to the Palestinian territories’ as evidence of the US ally’s cultural superiority (and perhaps a little divine providence), but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pretty explicit about linking Palestinian economic woes to the occupation.
In a speech to the United States Congress in May 2011, Netanyahu devoted a significant passage towards what he called the “booming” Palestinian economy, a development he attributed specifically to an easing of Israeli restrictions on movement and business. He suggested that peace would bring even stronger growth.
Here’s a portion of Netanyahu’s speech, via the Council on Foreign Relations:
We seek a peace in which they’ll be neither Israel’s subjects nor its citizens. They should enjoy a national life of dignity as a free, viable and independent people living in their own state. They should enjoy a prosperous economy, where their creativity and initiative can flourish.
Now, we’ve already seen the beginnings of what is possible. In the last two years, the Palestinians have begun to build a better life for themselves. By the way, Prime Minister Fayyad has led this effort on their part, and I — I wish him a speedy recovery from his recent operation.
We’ve helped — on our side, we’ve helped the Palestinian economic growth by removing hundreds of barriers and roadblocks to the free flow of goods and people, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. The Palestinian economy is booming; it’s growing by more than 10 percent a year. And Palestinian cities — they look very different today than what they looked just a few years — a few years ago. They have shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, banks. They even have e-businesses, but you can’t see that when you visit them.
That’s what they have. It’s a great change. And all of this is happening without peace. So imagine what could happen with peace.
Now, we’ve already seen the beginnings of what is possible. In the last two years, the Palestinians have begun to build a better life for themselves. By the way, Prime Minister Fayyad has led this effort on their part, and I — I wish him a speedy recovery from his recent operation.
We’ve helped — on our side, we’ve helped the Palestinian economic growth by removing hundreds of barriers and roadblocks to the free flow of goods and people, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. The Palestinian economy is booming; it’s growing by more than 10 percent a year. And Palestinian cities — they look very different today than what they looked just a few years — a few years ago. They have shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, banks. They even have e-businesses, but you can’t see that when you visit them.
That’s what they have. It’s a great change. And all of this is happening without peace. So imagine what could happen with peace.
While Romney’s speech boasted of Israel’s economic strength, it made no mention to the Palestinians’ lack of a sovereign state or, as Netanyahu acknowledged, the economic impact of having to navigate a maze of checkpoints and other barriers in addition to the basic disruption of longstanding internal and external conflicts.
- more -
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/netanyahu-romney-israel-palestine-economy.php
Of course, it's damage control time for team Romney
John McCain refuses to believe that Mitt Romney actually said what he said
by Jed Lewison
At first glance, you might think that this means John McCain was giving Mitt Romney a rebuke:
That's because Romney, in Israel, took the exact opposite position as McCain, telling supporters at a fundraiser that Israelis are wealthier than Palestinians in large part because they have a superior culture. Romney went on to make it clear that he wasn't singling out Palestinians for insult: he also said that Mexico is poorer than the U.S. and Ecuador is poorer than Chile because they have inferior cultures to their neighbors. So he was being an equal opportunity dick.
Nonethless, when McCain spoke, he wasn't trying to disagree with Romney. Instead, he simply couldn't believe—or couldn't bring himself to publicly acknowledge—that Romney had actually said what he said.
Of course, McCain was dead wrong. Here's what Romney actually said:
Maybe John McCain can't believe Mitt Romney is actually dumb enough to have said what he said—to have insulted three nations on three different continents—but despite McCain's protestations to the contrary, that's exactly what Romney did. Even Newt Gingrich recognized that fact when he defended Romney's remarks. But not John McCain—and that's worth keeping in mind when you consider the fact that McCain not only vouched for Romney today, but he's also vouched for Romney's tax returns as well.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/30/1115126/-John-McCain-refuses-to-believe-that-Mitt-Romney-actually-said-what-he-said
by Jed Lewison
At first glance, you might think that this means John McCain was giving Mitt Romney a rebuke:
It’s government, “not cultures” that define the difference between Israelis and Palestinians. That’s according to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who appeared to differ with presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney as he tried to defend him.
That's because Romney, in Israel, took the exact opposite position as McCain, telling supporters at a fundraiser that Israelis are wealthier than Palestinians in large part because they have a superior culture. Romney went on to make it clear that he wasn't singling out Palestinians for insult: he also said that Mexico is poorer than the U.S. and Ecuador is poorer than Chile because they have inferior cultures to their neighbors. So he was being an equal opportunity dick.
Nonethless, when McCain spoke, he wasn't trying to disagree with Romney. Instead, he simply couldn't believe—or couldn't bring himself to publicly acknowledge—that Romney had actually said what he said.
“I am sure that Gov. Romney was not talking about difference in cultures, or difference in anybody superior or inferior,” said McCain, a chief Romney foreign policy surrogate, today during a news conference after an event here with Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “What I’m sure Gov. Romney was talking was that the Israeli economy has grown and prospered in a dramatic fashion. And unfortunately, the Palestinians have not had that same economic development.
“And that goes to the leadership of the Palestinians. Everybody knows that Yasser Arafat was corrupt. And we also know that the Palestinian people have not been blessed with the kind of government that has lower regulations, less taxes, entrepreneurship, which have caused the Israeli economy to be one of the world’s most successful. It has nothing to do with cultures. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. But facts of the booming Israeli economy has to do with the kind of government that the Israeli people have freely and democratically elected which has given them a very prosperous country.”
“And that goes to the leadership of the Palestinians. Everybody knows that Yasser Arafat was corrupt. And we also know that the Palestinian people have not been blessed with the kind of government that has lower regulations, less taxes, entrepreneurship, which have caused the Israeli economy to be one of the world’s most successful. It has nothing to do with cultures. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. But facts of the booming Israeli economy has to do with the kind of government that the Israeli people have freely and democratically elected which has given them a very prosperous country.”
Of course, McCain was dead wrong. Here's what Romney actually said:
“Culture makes all the difference,” Mr. Romney said. “And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.”
“As you come here and you see the G.D.P. per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000, and compare that with the G.D.P. per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,” he said.
“As you come here and you see the G.D.P. per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000, and compare that with the G.D.P. per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,” he said.
Maybe John McCain can't believe Mitt Romney is actually dumb enough to have said what he said—to have insulted three nations on three different continents—but despite McCain's protestations to the contrary, that's exactly what Romney did. Even Newt Gingrich recognized that fact when he defended Romney's remarks. But not John McCain—and that's worth keeping in mind when you consider the fact that McCain not only vouched for Romney today, but he's also vouched for Romney's tax returns as well.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/30/1115126/-John-McCain-refuses-to-believe-that-Mitt-Romney-actually-said-what-he-said
Romney's actual comments were even worse.
Holy shit! A senior Palestinian Authority official accuse Romney of making a "racist statement"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021045643
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