Mitt Romney Palestinian comments 'racist and out of touch'
Mitt Romney, who is heading to Poland as part of an international tour, has attracted further controversy as Palestinian leaders called comments on Jerusalem racist and out of touch.
In a breakfast meeting this morning, the Republican
presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who breakfasted at the
King David Hotel: "As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for
instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with
the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian
Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a
dramatically stark difference in economic vitality."
He did not mention the crippling restrictions that Israel imposes on
Palestinian trade and movement. The reaction of Palestinian leaders was
swift and pointed, as Romney continued to make missteps on a three-country
trip designed to bolster his foreign policy credentials while challenging
President Barack Obama for the November election. The Israel visit was
designed to appeal to the Jewish vote in a tight race.
"It is a racist statement and this man doesn't realise that the
Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli
occupation," said Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas.
"It seems to me this man (Romney) lacks information, knowledge, vision
and understanding of this region and its people," Erekat added. "He
also lacks knowledge about the Israelis themselves. I have not heard any
Israeli official speak about cultural superiority."
The economic disparity between the Israelis and the Palestinians is actually
much greater than Romney stated. Israel had a per capita gross domestic
product of about $31,000 in 2011, while the West Bank and Gaza had a per
capita GDP of just over $1,500, according to the World Bank.
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