Santorum: Jerusalem is Israel’s Capital

April 9, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, April 9 – Rick Santorum came out swinging today against the Obama administration for not officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“It has been longstanding U.S. policy not to officially recognize any part of Jerusalem as part of Israel – and it is dead wrong,” Santorum writes in an op-ed in the New York Daily News. “There is no daylight between my position and the government of Israel’s on the issue of Jerusalem. I voted for the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, I support recognizing a united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and I will move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in compliance with that act.”

Santorum also attacked his rival for the Republican presidential primary:

Unfortunately, I cannot say that my opponent for the Republican Presidential nomination has a different position from that of the President. He has not expressed his opinion about the Obama administration’s position on Jerusalem.

When asked about recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving our embassy there, Mitt Romney is undecided, and said he would consult with the government of Israel. He has been running for President for six years, and I think that is long enough for him to get up to speed on foreign policy and make a decision on this crucial issue.

This editorial was published one day after a New York Times profile about the close relationship between Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Santorum sends holiday greetings

April 7, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, April 7 – Rick Santorum sent holiday greetings yesterday via email to his supporters, wishing them a “blessed Easter” and a “joyous Passover”:

This Sunday, I hope you enjoy a very blessed Easter and as we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, let’s remember the true importance of this day and the ultimate sacrifice he made on our behalf.

And while we Christians begin to celebrate Easter, our Jewish friends will start the celebration of Passover this evening. Karen and I also wish all of our Jewish friends a very joyous Passover and hope your celebration is full of family and friends.

Thank you for standing with us and for all you have done and are doing for our campaign.

Mitt Romney also made comments about both Passover and Easter and President Obama created a video with Passover greetings.

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GOP Hopefuls: Stronger Stand on Iran Needed

March 6, 2012 1 Comment

By Ari Bildner, Staff Writer

Washington, March 6 – On the day of a pivotal primary election, three Republican presidential candidates re-emphasized on Tuesday their commitment to stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and promised to go further than President Barack Obama in standing with Israel on the issue.

“In a Romney administration there will be no gap between our leaders,” former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said. “I will bring the current policy of procrastination toward Iran to an end.”

Romney, former Sen. Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich were speaking to the 14,000-plus delegates at the policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Santorum addressed the convention in person, while Romney and Gingrich appeared via webcam from the campaign trail on “Super Tuesday,” when 10 states hold their Republican primaries.

“While I cannot be with you, I stand with you,” Romney told the more than 13,000 pro-Israel activists attending the session. “I share your commitment to a strong and secure Israel. And I salute your tireless work to strengthen our alliance.”

“A nuclear Iran is not only a problem for Israel,” Romney said. “It is also a problem for America and the entire world.”

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Santorum: Iran an “existential threat to freedom-loving people”

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director 

Washington, March 6 – Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum took a day off from the campaign trail on the day of Super Tuesday to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in person.

“I wanted to come off the campaign trail to come here,” he told the 13,000-plus Israel activists. “The threats facing America and her ally Israel warrant the personal attention of presidential candidates.”

The former Pennsylvania senator said Iran is not an existential threat just to Israel, but is an “existential threat to freedom-loving people throughout the world.” He called for a clear ultimatum to the Iranian government to stop production and allow for inspection of all facilities now.

While the speech focused primarily on Iran, Santorum closed his speech by saying the U.S. needs to become energy independent and not rely on the Middle East for oil. He asked the audience to ensure the “radical environmental movement” in the U.S. does not stop domestic oil and gas production.

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Romney, Santorum Confirm Speaking at AIPAC

February 28, 2012 3 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, Feb. 28 – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum have confirmed they will join former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during its annual policy conference.

According to a tweet from AIPAC, Romney, Santorum, and Gingrich are now scheduled to speak to the Policy Conference on Tuesday morning, March 6, also the day of Super Tuesday, when 10 states go to the polls.

AIPAC had originally said Gingrich would address the confab in person on March 5.

Romney is planning to address the Policy Conference via satellite.

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UN May Indict Assad for Crimes against Humanity

February 23, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum and Alan Elsner

Washington, Feb. 23 – A United Nations panel is drawing up a list of Syrian officials that may include President Bashar al-Assad whom it wants to investigate for crimes against humanity in the brutal suppression of the popular uprising against the Damascus regime.

The news came a day after two western journalists were killed in a savage bombardment of the city of Homs. In total, more than 6,000 people have already died in the uprising, which is turning into a brutal sectarian civil war.

For the first time, Syria attracted the attention of Republican presidential candidates in a debate Wednesday evening in Arizona. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich all drew a connection between Assad and Iran – but none called for U.S. military intervention.

“Syria is a puppet state of Iran,” former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said during the CNN Republican presidential debate. “They are a threat not just to Israel but they have been a complete destabilizing force within Lebanon which is another problem for Israel, and Hezbollah. They are a country that we could do no worse than the leadership in Syria today which is not the case in some of the other countries that we readily got ourselves involved in.”

“Syria is [Iran's] key ally, their only ally in the Arab world,” former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney added. “It is also their route to the sea. Syria provides a shadow over Lebanon. Syria is providing the armament of Hezbollah in Lebanon that of course threatens Israel, our friend and ally.”

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GOP candidates talk Iran during CNN debate

February 23, 2012 2 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, Feb. 23 – Iran was again a prominent issue in the latest GOP presidential debate in Arizona, with three of the four candidates vowing to stop the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear weapon using whatever means were necessary. Only Texas Rep. Ron Paul stood out from the chorus.

“You’re seeing in the Republican platform a very strong commitment to say we’re going to say ‘no’ to Iran,” Mitt Romney said during CNN’s Republican presidential debate Wednesday night.

The former Massachusetts governor said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might share fissile material with Hezbollah and Hamas “that they can bring into Latin America and potentially bring across the border into the United States to let off dirty bombs here or more sophisticated bombs here.”

“We simply cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weaponry,” Romney said before turning to attack President Obama. “This is a president who has made it clear through his administration and every communication that we’ve had so far that he does not want Israel to take action, that he opposes military action. This is a president who should have instead communicated to Iran that we are prepared, that we are considering military options. They are not just on the table; they are in our hand. We must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. If they do, the world changes. America will be at risk. And someday, nuclear weaponry will be used. If I’m president, that will not happen.”

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Middle East Plays Part in Conservative Conference

February 10, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, Feb. 10 – During a convention focused largely on domestic policies, the Middle East – and America’s involvement in the region – was not fully absent.

On the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), analysts debating if the Arab Spring is good or bad for America said while the Arab Spring has created new challenges for American foreign policy, it is still hard to tell how it will unfold.

Three of the four Republican presidential hopefuls addressed the confab Friday. When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich repeated his pledge to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he was rewarded with cheers from the audience.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney placed most of the emphasis on domestic issues, but he paused toward the end of his speech today to repeat an assurance that “America remains the greatest military power on the face of the earth.”

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Filed under Arab Spring, Congress, GOP Primary, Iran, Israel, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Iran Expert Says Sanctions Effective, But Not Sufficient

January 25, 2012 Leave a comment

Mark Dubowitz, Executive Director of Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Mark Dubowitz, Executive Director of Foundation for Defense of Democracies

By Ari Bildner, Staff Writer

Download a Clip of the Call (Mp3)

Washington, Jan. 25 – As both President Obama and the remaining Republican presidential candidates promise to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons by any means necessary, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Executive Director Mark Dubowitz said sanctions may not be enough.

“Sanctions should never be thought of as a silver bullet; they can be thought of as silver shrapnel,” Dubowitz said Wednesday during a Conference Call sponsored by The Israel Project. “The most important part is to understand that sanctions are not a silver bullet, but part of a comprehensive strategy.”

Dubowitz recapped analysis that also was featured on National Public Radio Wednesday, in which the reporter profiled the Dubowitz team’s assessment of the international community’s economic pressure on Iran.

In his State of the Union Address to Congress Tuesday, the president applauded the international community for uniting in opposition to the Iranian nuclear program.

“Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one,” Obama said. ”The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.”

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Last Night’s Debate: Candidates speak out on the Middle East

January 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Republican Presidential Candidates at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal Debate

Republican Presidential Candidates at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal Debate

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jan. 17 – Several of the remaining Republican presidential candidates spoke about foreign policy issues concerning the Middle East at the FOX News / Wall Street Journal debate last night.

Asked about Turkey, Gov. Rick Perry said it is “time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong to be in NATO.” In addition, Perry called for zeroing out aid to Turkey, a statement he has said several times during the campaign season regarding foreign aid to all countries. “We need to send a powerful message to countries like Iran, and Syria and Turkey that the United States is serious and that we’re going to have to be dealt with.”

Sen. Rick Santorum called Syria and President Bashar al-Assad a threat to Israel. He called for working with the international community and the Arab League to remove Assad from power. But he stopped short of calling for military action. “As far as a military mission on our own, no, I do not support a military mission into Syria, but we should be much more aggressive in following through with policies that effectuate the removal of Assad for the benefit of the Syrian people and for our neighbor — and for their neighbor, Israel.”

Perry also spoke about Israel, receiving applause for stating “there should be no space between the United States and Israel, period.”

Rep. Ron Paul discussed “a difference between military spending and defense spending.”  For reference on Paul’s assertion of two sorts of defense expenditures, read the Department of Defense budget for the 2012 fiscal year. Paul’s campaign later sent out an email with the subject line: “Paul’s Plan DOES NOT Freeze Pentagon Budget.” What the plan does do, however, is end foreign wars, foreign aid and welfare.

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