Romney Assessment Angers Palestinians

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Palestinian officials and laypeople alike have reacted angrily to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s assessment that “Palestinians have no interest in establishing peace.” Romney’s position surfaced in a video posted on the Internet that was shot during a fundraiser on May 17, in which the former Massachusetts governor opined that the Palestinians are “committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel.” Palestinian chief negotiator Sa’ib Ariqat argued in response that, “No one loses from the failure to achieve peace more than our people and its leadership, because it means the continuation of the occupation.” Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, told the Reuters news agency that, “We think that these statements are part of the election campaign, but unfortunately, it will not help the peace process, but rather, will strengthen the voices of extremism and the voices of those who refuse to reach a two-state solution.”  Parliamentarian Hanan Ashwari warned that such talk is “dangerous” to American credibility “in the Middle East and throughout the world.” The White House hit Romney by pointing out that support for a “two-state solution” has been policy under both Republican and Democratic administrations.