At controversial fundraiser, Romney says Middle East peace is difficult

Updated 4:00 p.m. ET, September 19

(CBS News) At the same fundraiser where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney described the majority of President Obama's supporters as people who are "dependent on government" and "believe that they are victims," Romney also talked foreign policy, specifically his view that peace in the Middle East may not be feasible.

In a video obtained by Mother Jones that was shot at a May 17 fundraiser, Romney was asked how the Israeli-Palestinian issue could be resolved. Romney responded by saying the Palestinians aren't interested in peace.

"I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and I say there's just no way," Romney is heard saying on the video.

"[S]o what you do is, you say, you move things along the best way you can. You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem...and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it."

He added that he doesn't support Israel bowing to the Palestinians.

"The idea of pushing on the Israelis to give something up to get the Palestinians to act is the worst idea in the world."

Publicly, Romney has been more restrained and actually said in an interview with Israeli newspaper Haaretz in July, "I believe in a two-state solution which suggests there will be two states, including a Jewish state."

He also discussed Iran - saying, "Iran... the mullahs... crazy people" could blackmail the U.S. if they had nuclear capability.

"[W]e really don't have any option but to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon," he added.

Romney also took the opportunity to criticize President Obama suggesting his foreign policy "perception" is "naive."

"The president's foreign policy, in my opinion, is formed in part by a perception he has that his magnetism, and his charm, and his persuasiveness is so compelling that he can sit down with people like Putin and Ch?vez and Ahmadinejad, and that they'll find that we're such wonderful people that they'll go on with us, and they'll stop doing bad things. And it's an extraordinarily naive perception," Romney said.

UPDATE: After this story was published, Mother Jones released the entire video, which added more context to Romney's initial quote about the Middle East peace process.  Romney also said:

"But I always keep open the idea of pushing on the Israelis to give something up to get the Palestinians to act is the worst idea in the world. We have done that time and time and time again. It does not work. So the only answer is show them strength. American strength, American resolve, and the Palestinians will some day reach the point where they want peace more than we're trying to force peace on them. Then it's worth having the discussion. So until then, it's just wistful thinking."

Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said in an email, "The Governor makes clear as he has in the past that peace is not possible if the extremist elements on the Palestinian side refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist. Currently the Palestinian government is discussing a unity pact with Hamas. This cast great doubt on the prospects of peace should that agreement be reached. But as Mitt Romney indicated he is committed to a two state solution and will not throw up any barriers to both sides negotiating that solution."

In response to the release of the full context of Romney's remarks, CBSNews.com adjusted this story and its headline to reflect the added information.

[Kinz1510]

What has Obama done for the peace process in the Middle East? Answer: Nothing!

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

At least he hasn't said - there's no hope, lets just kick the ball down the road! : /

[TimeToEvolve]

Yeah Robbed Me, as long as any Republicon has anything to say about it, you're right. As long as anyone listens to an uneducated and purposefully ignorant fool like Robbed Me, we are going no where fast.

[cubscout09]

The Jewish Daily FORWARD (hmm, interesting name) says that when Romney visited the holy land, he snubbed the Palestinian president, signaling that he was disinterested in the peace process.

http://forward.com/articles/160144/romney-meets-with-palestinians-salam-fayyad/

[Billybob395]

The Afghanistan serge was a total disaster and the media just yawns and gives Obama a pass:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/09/analysis_the_taliban.php

[UForgotPoland]

Yeah it was a disaster and Mittens wants to keep it going indefinitely.

[cubscout09]

At least Obama can handle a pass. Has anyone explained to Romney why you don't punt the ball away on first down?

[walkthetalk]

These people don't like each other and never will. I watched for many years, as we wasted time, money and breath, with no results. This is a lost cause. Move on.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

by Mortarman_1SG29
For no other reason was, for the time I was gone...I missed talking with you and reading all of your nonsense.

I did look in from time to time and you had old man Founders tied in nots. He was so ticked off at you!! Poor guy!

I tried to tell him that is just what you do, and to take nothing you say seriously. But it seems he just took it all personally.

Anyway, good to see you again my friend! Glad you are well.

-------------------

1) You were only gone for 10 days.

2) You are also TheFoundersLive, and just love lying, and

3) I am not your friend

[majorityofone]

A Romney presidency: Abandon hope all ye who enter here.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Yet you CHEERED when GWB crapped all over the Constitution - the 1st, 4th, and 6th Amendments in particular - with his "Patriot" Act which Obama was stupid enough to continue.

You're really, really bad at keeping your stories straight, Mortar.

[signseeker1717]

Football Analogy: Romney is like watching a badly-prepared high school football primadonna try to go straight to the pros: Doesn't understand the field dimensions and rules have changed; doesn't study the playbook: doesn't communicate with teammates; fumbles repeatedly; doesn't recognize mistakes and doesn't improve play; CERTAINLY doesn't worry about the final score.

Will NEVER be a Superbowl Champ.

Best to cut him NOW, and not waste any more time.

[stevex47]

I remember the good ole day's of willard on his world tour, when he called a foreign President, "Mr. Leader".

With brains like that, he's sure to be boosh III.

And I'll bet you $10,000

[signseeker1717]

Willard reminds me more of Sarah Palin: toss red meat to the exremists, no brains, great asinine quotes. But he's no where NEAR as amusing.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
hesitation and uncertainty are evident through the words of Republican candidate, if he is not convinced by what he says, how he wants to convince voters and international opinion?
Republican candidate wants to woo Jewish voters in the U.S.,
but this community is not stupid
also, saying that the Palestinians do not want peace is unfair to the people left out and more often disadvantaged at the expense of Israel.
Palestinian and Israeli people know that peace is possible and necessary, because they are condemned to live together, they also know that the process for peace in the Middle East is a way to achieve peace.
"au revoir"

[Think3Times]

To tell anyone, no matter where or who they are, that they will never have a chance, or never have peace, is to assume that they will NEVER learn from their past decisions/actions. I'm absolutely disgusted with this statement. Perhaps it's Mr Romney himself that will never learn from his mistakes and thats why he assumes that nobody else can/will. Go ahead and argue that the middle east has been at war over religion for thousands of years and use that as a basis to deny that they will ever evolve/change/grow, whatever you wish to label it, but it is inevitable that growth/change/evolution WILL happen. Just because it's not happening in the time frame YOU think it should happen in doesn't mean that it will NEVER happen. I can't stand you Mitt, or your apathetic, pessimistic opinions of mankind. Maybe thats how you justify making millions by outsourcing American jobs and hoarding as much money as you can while you insult the people who actually put blood,sweat and sometimes tears into the money YOU make off of them. Because you really don't care to help people grow, you care only about how to get their money.

[Billybob395]

So your disgusted with reality? Smoke some more pot, but not before you read this:

The Afghanistan serge was a total disaster and the media just yawns and gives Obama a pass:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/09/analysis_the_taliban.php