Gingrich, Romney agree to blame the Palestinians, Obama for lack of progress in the peace process

By: Leigh Ann Caldwell
Topics: Campaign 2012

In a rare moment of unity at the CNN-sponsored debate in Jacksonville, Fla., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich strongly sided with Israel, but each candidate took a slightly different method. Romney blamed President Obama and Gingrich blamed the Palestinians for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The former governor said Mr. Obama "disrespected Benjamin Netanyahu," for announcing a major policy change the day before a bilateral meeting in the White House.

"I think he threw Israel under the bus with regards to defining the '67 borders as a starting point of negotiations," Romney said.

Mr. Obama announced in May of 2011 that the Mid-East peace process should be based on the borders of 1967, a stance in which the Israeli government is staunchly opposed because Israel's borders have grown since then, with new and growing settlements in Palestinian territory.

"I think he has time and time again shown distance from Israel, and that has created, in my view, a greater sense of aggression on the part of the Palestinians," Romney said. "I will stand with our friend, Israel."

More from the debate:

Gingrich, Romney at each other's throats over immigration
Gingrich hints at making Marco Rubio VP
Gingrich, Romney hit each other over involvement in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Romney tells Gingrich: I'd fire you for your moon proposal

In one of the few times during this contentious debate, Gingrich agreed with Romney. "Governor Romney is exactly right."

Gingrich placed the blame for the long-standing stalemate in the peace process on the Palestinians.

"There were 11 rockets fired into Israel in November. Now, imagine in Duvall County (in Florida) that 11 rockets hit from your neighbor. How many of you would be for a peace process and how many of you would say, you know, that looks like an act of war?" Gingrich asked the audience.

"They can achieve [peace] any morning they are prepared to say, 'Israel has a right to exist, we give up the right to return, and we recognize that we're going to live side-by-side, now let's work together to create mutual prosperity,'" Gingrich said.

The former House speaker offered a strong stance that Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and others have refused to do - move the U.S. embassy in Israel. Its current location is meant to symbolize American neutrality in the peace talks.

"On the first day that I'm president, if I do become president, I will sign an executive order directing the State Department to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to send the signal we're with Israel," Gingrich said.

Leigh Ann Caldwell
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by News_Buzz January 28, 2012 12:50 AM EST: Israel has turned our American politicians into servile cabana-boys for zio nism
Through the use of lobbies, cash contributions and political power ploys.

We are in a dangerous position with Israel.
No benefit for America, and the Israelis look at America like a fat pinata to crack open and the zio nist goons gather all the goodies.; Reply to this comment

by Sloughfoot January 27, 2012 11:59 AM EST

We've had 12 presidents since Israel became a country, 6 Dems, 6 Rep. They have all struggled with the mid east peace process. Carter and Clinton, both Dems., made some progress that was noted at the time. The Palestinians have some valid points and so do the Israelis ref. their arguments. Unfortunately the Palestinians have become pawns in the zealots of the muslims communities' war on all things not muslim. Getting two people to stand in front of cameras for pictures does not a peace process make.

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by News_Buzz January 28, 2012 12:46 AM EST: "Palestinians have become pawns in the zealots..." while our presidential candidates have become slaves to zionism...

by MacDerb January 27, 2012 8:27 AM EST

The United States must unequivocally support and defend Israel.

Lies have developed since the Greatest Generation that witnessed the atrocities of WWII against the Jews have passed, which promote support for Palestine, which are nations of Islam.

Mr. Obama AND Mr. Bush sent Judeo/Christian soldiers from the United States to reconstruct these nations of Islam at the danger, risk and expense of not only United States taxpayers, but also of Israel that was wholly left unprotected as we assisted these nations of Islam militarily.

Shocking and outrageous.

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by P0STING_AWAY January 27, 2012 10:10 AM EST: No, you are completely wrong.


by your-one-k1ng January 27, 2012 7:26 AM EST: It's time to get off the "holy land" kick. These tribes have been warring for thousands of years. We need to look at that region in a geopolitical sense and stop this silly, nostalgic approach.

Pandering to bible belters may play in Jacksonville, but the rest of us roll our eyes in embarrassment.; Reply to this comment


by smehgol January 27, 2012 5:01 AM EST: Ongoing war is extremely beneficial to the Jewish state. The context of war perpetuates enormous flow of American money and military assistance, abets continuing illegal confiscation of Palestinian land, and masks Israel's depraved cruelty. Forgo aggression through negotiations? No way. Only force, UN and NATO, actually deploying or credibly threatening, can impose peace.; Reply to this comment


by sweetcakesmaria January 27, 2012 4:26 AM EST: Mitt Romney is pretty stupid for blaming the President for the ongoing conflict between the Palenstinians and Israel, this conflict has been going on for approx. 64 years while Obama has been President for three years. Mitt should ask himself how many U.S. Presidents has tried and failed to get the partys to negotiate a peace pact. Obama, Romney or no other outsider can negotiate something that those people doesn't seem to want.; Reply to this comment


by chagrined1 January 27, 2012 3:34 AM EST: Romney misrepresented the facts about President Obama's speech at the UN on Palestinian statehood.
The obsequious, shameful pandering to Israel is unAmerican and does not serve in America's best interest as "support for Israel" is a stated reason for the assault on 9-11. Any person who betrays America and who jeopardizes the security of America for Israel should go the way of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg!
President Obama is just as guilty of pandering to Israel (See his speech to the Union for Reform Judaism) as these insidious ingrates, Santorum, Romney and Gingrich. All are a disgrace to America!

Europeans killed Jews and were responsible for the Holocaust, not the Palestinians! European Jewish refugees went to Palestine, took homes and land that belong to the Palestinians making the Palestinians refugees. Jews are to the Palestinians what Hitler was to them? Are Jews any less evil? Jews owned 7% of Palestine at this time. The oppressed have now become the oppressor!; Reply to this comment


by speakthetrut January 27, 2012 2:18 AM EST: If Texas, New York, or California had significant number of Palestinian-Americans, both Newt and Romney would go to those states and say Israel is the one derailing the peace process.; Reply to this comment