Righteous Among the Nations

That the Republican party has become the new standard bearer for Israel in American politics appeared to be confirmed Thursday night as Republican primary front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich both expressed militantly pro-Israel opinions in a nationally-televised debate.

Both candidates hurled rhetorical grenades at President Barack Obama's policies toward Israel, claiming that he disrespects and has even abandoned an important American ally.

"This president threw Israel under the bus," Romney said,

with regards to defining the '67 borders as the starting point of negotiations. I think he disrespected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bibi Netanyahu. I think he has time and time again shown distance from Israel, and that created, in my view, a greater sense of aggression on the part of the Palestinians.

Israelis would be happy to have a two-state solution. It's the Palestinians who don't want a two-state solution; they want to eliminate the State of Israel.

I believe the best way to have peace in the Middle East is not for us to vacillate and to appease, but is to say we stand with our friend Israel; we are committed to a Jewish state in Israel; we will not have an inch of difference between ourselves and our ally Israel.

Gingrich wasted no time in seconding Romney's sentiments, one of the few times the bitter rivals for the Republican presidential nomination have agreed on anything in recent weeks.

The former speaker of the House also reiterated his belief that the Palestinians are an "invented people" who have no true national identity, saying that prior to the 1970s "they were Arabs." He also derided the Palestinians sincerity in regard to negotiations and pledged to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem "on the first day that I am president."

"The leadership in Hamas says not a single Jew will remain" in Israel, he said. "Well, you're not having a peace negotiation, then. This is war by another form."

While many Israelis would agree with the sentiments expressed by the two candidates, it is highly unlikely that it will garner them any votes from American Jews.

One of the most predictable voting groups in America, they have voted overwhelmingly for the Democrats since the 1930s and in the last elections, despite many questions about Obama's attitude toward Israel, gave him 80 percent of their votes.

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