Armbruster writes: "Romney has previously said he supports a two-state solution but in the video uncovered by Mother Jones, the GOP presidential nominee indicates he has no interest in actively pursuing peace."

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is presented with a booklet as he visits the Western Wall, in Jerusalem, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (photo: Dan Balilty/AP)

Another Romney Video: 'There's Just No Way' to Achieve Middle East Peace

By Ben Armbruster, ThinkProgress

18 September 12

other Jones is out with a new video from a high-dollar fundraiser for Mitt Romney in which Romney says he believes a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "unthinkable" and that his policy will be to "kick the can down the the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it."

Romney's comments came at the same fundraiser in which Romney said he's not concerned about 47 percent of Americans "who are dependent upon the government" and believe they're entitled to food and shelter.

Romney has previously said he supports a two-state solution but in the video uncovered by Mother Jones, the GOP presidential nominee indicates he has no interest in actively pursuing peace:

ROMNEY: I'm torn by two perspectives in this regard. One is the one which I've had for some time, which is that the Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace, and that the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish. Now why do I say that? Some might say, let's see the Palestinians have the West Bank, and have security and set up a separate nation for the Palestinians. And then come a couple of thorny questions. [...]

And I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and these thorny issues, and I say, "There's just no way." And so 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. We live with it in China and Taiwan. All right, we have a potentially volatile situation but we sort of live with it, and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it. We don't go to war to try and resolve it imminently.

But when asked recently if he supported the two-state solution by the Israeli paper Haaretz, Romney said:

"I believe in a two-state solution which suggests there will be two states, including a Jewish state. I respect Israel's right to remain a Jewish state. The question is not whether the people of the region believe that there should be a Palestinian state. The question is if they believe there should be an Israeli state, a Jewish state."

While Romney does pay lip service to the two-state solution, publicly, his rhetoric at the fundraiser mirrors much of what he's been saying throughout the campaign. The "Israel" issue page on his campaign website makes no reference to a "two-state solution" or a "Palestinian" state. He said earlier this year that now is not to the time to be talking about a peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians. So Romney has never really been interested in a two-state solution, he was just more up front about it at his fundraiser.

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+17 # dkonstruction 2012-09-18 12:26

Of course Romney never bothers to mention that even today the majority of Israeli's support the two-state solution along the lines of the pre-1967 borders nor that it is the basis of the camp david accords that have been the basis for all talks since then and which all parties have (at least in theory) continue to say they will abide by. He also continues to push the nonsense that the Palestinians don't want peace but have no criticisms of Israeli gov't policies "on the ground" that are the principle threat to a viable two-state solution says anything about the unending Israeli expansion of settlements in the occupied territories. He merely plays to the most reactionary forces in both the Jewish and Fundamentalist Christian communities here in the US which are the precisely the same forces that have opposed a genuine and just peace for all in the region. Truly disgusting.

+12 # ganymede 2012-09-18 15:03

I'm finding it hard to believe that Romney and his cronies are so stupid to believe that all his candid remarks are not going to come back and bite him badly in the ass. The Republicans are going to lose badly in November and this is political karma like I've never seen before. They will be lucky to get 40% of the vote and, unbelievably they're going to go into exile for at least four years or more. In fact, there may no longer be a Republican Party and we're going to have a total realignment of politics in this country. Obama will probably turn out to be one of the greatest reformers we've ever had.

+1 # Scott Galindez 2012-09-18 22:45

They will likely still have the house....thats not exile...

+3 # X Dane 2012-09-18 22:57

PLEASE god, listen to ganymede,....AN D MAKE IT HAPPEN.

-2 # SMoonz 2012-09-19 08:58

"Obama will probably turn out to be one of the greatest reformers we've ever had."

First 4 years, not a reformer. Next 4 years, still not a reformer.

+10 # pernsey 2012-09-18 17:52

Really? Really? It almost seems like hes just rambling, Mitt literally has no clue.

+14 # Billy Bob 2012-09-18 20:33

I wonder why none of the 3rd-partiers have commented on this video...?

Is it starting to hit home that President Mittens WILL get us in a MAJOR war involving Iran and most of the rest of the Middle-East? Care to test the Mayan prophecy goofballs?

By the way, you DO realize that Iran has more people than both Afghanistan AND Iraq COMBINED, right?

Just curious.

THINK about the implications of allowing WWIII BEFORE pulling the lever for a 3rd party. Your grandchildren are counting on you.

+8 # X Dane 2012-09-18 23:12

I wonder if you caught, that Romney should be arrested, and be accused of TREASON. He was saying, that if HE WERE Iran, he would threaten US with a dirty bomb, placed somewhere in Chicago???

The man is CRAZY...and he can not be allowed anywhere near the White House.
Not even as a paying visitor. Who knows...he might bring a dirty bomb.

The rest of his remarks are equally insane...and or stupid....How did he EVER GET THIS FAR????

+3 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 08:30

Any regular citizen who said such things would probably be on a "no fly" list, to say the least. Of course there's a double-standard:

IOKIYAR

(It's OK If You're A Repuglican)

+4 # 666 2012-09-19 03:39

I think there's a wee bit of overhype about these 2 MJ videos (and I can't stand romney, so this is not a defense). First this just shows romney's absolute and total f'ing ignorance about muslims, islam, arabs, and persians (not the same) and politics there -- and I suspect he was speaking to an audience just as ignorant. bush was no better. jordan (for better or worse) has been a fairly consistent ally of the us -- and here's "hello mitty" insulting another ally, as if jordan were just a tool of iran,... did anyone catch this?
hello mitty makes it fairly clear that he will follow neocons & hard-line israeli cons who want to abandon all hope (as in dante's inferno). if anything, he's saying he will give the hard-liners in israel a totally free hand to repress the palestinians (and others). does this mean he will give israel a free hand to attack iran? probably. but will israel attack? not without the full faith and credit (and bodies) of the US (see bibi's attempts to strong-arm obama). with a hello mitty presidency that would come down to the power-struggle playing out between gop factions. I think even the hardcore but more rational libertarians & tea-baggers realize getting bogged down in iran could sink this country -- unless someone signs off on the nuke option - which will earn us world condemnation (ok with the neocons & israel).
I'm still pulling that 3rd party lever.

+1 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 08:31

Enjoy that 3rd party option while it lasts. If Mittens gets in with both houses of Congress controlled by repugs, this might be the last election you're allowed.

0 # 666 2012-09-19 12:13

ya know it's odd how both big parties are using the exact same logic: "our guy ain't perfect but he is the least evil choice, the other guy will bring [fascism|social ism]". Us 3rd/4th/5th party people are just getting a little tired of the fear and manipulation.

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 18:03

If you're not afraid you're not paying attention. If you want to change the Constitution to make our election process involve a jungle primary followed by an automatic run off we'll have as many viable parties as you could ever ask for. Otherwise, we're stuck with reality. Sorry reality is a pain in the ass. Unfortunately, I'm forced to live in THIS universe. If you'd prefer fantasy I hope you don't destroy the reality the rest of us are forced to live with.

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 18:25

When one of your 7th/8th/9th party candidates starts polling in the 30% range let me know. I check the polls every day. I've NEVER heard of ANY of them having a realistic chance of winning.

Since there are so many parties fighting each other for the attention of the 99% of us who will be hurt by President Romney, how much of the vote do you think any of them will get?

Personally, I DON'T want Romney to win. Do you?

-2 # 666 2012-09-20 03:43

Personally, I DON'T want either of them to win. The "reality" you speak of means voting for our own enslavement. Wake up! Other parties won't have a chance as long as we believe they don't and continue to choose between evil and eviler...

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-20 16:24

Other parties won't have a chance as long as they keep polling somewhere in the non-existent range. No one is stopping them from polling better. They don't have a chance.

This year MORE Americans will claim to be abducted by aliens than will vote for a 3rd party.

Whether you like it or not, EITHER twit or President Obama WILL be President in January. As twit would say, "I'll bet you $10,000".

Can you show me ANY poll stating that ANY 3rd party candidate stands a chance of winning? ANY?

0 # indian weaver 2012-09-20 03:50

All european systems of democracy are Paliamentary, meaning they have multiple parties in politics. This is why human rights organizations are saying this system of ours is no good. And all those european countries are a lot friendlier than ours in which to live. I've lived there. We need a Parliamentary system if we want any chance of survival - meaning the country and The People. Mulitple parties are required, otherwise we'll be imploding soon with civil war, with government atrocities being committed here as they are (and we are causing) in many countries right now.

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-20 16:26

If you'd like to start a petition to amend the Constitution I'll sign it. Personally, I like France's system best (w/ a jungle primary and an automatic runoff). Let me know how it goes.

+2 # SMoonz 2012-09-19 09:00

"Care to test the Mayan prophecy goofballs?"

Resorting to name calling really does not help achieve anything in an educated discussion. It hurts your cause more than it helps.

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 18:04

Are you personally offended? Well, if you're right, the world will end in 2 months so you won't have long to worry about it.

0 # SMoonz 2012-09-19 19:51

Billy, I am only pointing out that you are calling people goofballs. That is where your name calling lies.

0 # Billy Bob 2012-09-19 18:33

Also, I have a hard time taking people seriously when they tell me the world is going to end on Dec 21 of THIS year. If that's the case, WHY VOTE? If I really believed that I wouldn't be writing on this thread. I'd be hugging my wife, mom and children non-stop for the next few months.

Is this really how you plan to spend your last few months on Earth?

I really thought this was about Romney. If the planet alignment or whatever is going to destroy the Earth, why are we even discussing one twit? He won't even have a chance to take the oath of office.

I also don't have any respect for people who think the Earth is flat. Tell me, OBJECTIVELY, what is not goofy about someone claiming the world will end on Dec. 21?

Can you engage me in an "educated discussion" to support this claim?

-1 # SMoonz 2012-09-19 20:17

Billy, I'm really scratching my head right now. Nobody on this thread, including myself, ever mentioned flat Earth, December 21st, Mayan prophecies, end of the world or anything similar. If anything it is coming across like you have a preoccupation with it.

I don't believe in any of the above. Again, it was the "goofballs" part that was not appropriate as therein lay the name calling. Also, lumping someone who has views that do not reflect yours with a person who is superstitious or has an alternate view of reality is not right either.

Sorry I can't support the claim on any of these topics (Mayan prophecies, Dec 21st, etc.) because I never made that claim to begin with.

0 # indian weaver 2012-09-20 03:44

I have posted these 2 quotations by Albert Einstein in the past but they are especially relevant in agreement with Bill Bob: “If the idea of a world government is not realistic, then there is only one realistic view of our future: wholesale destruction of man by man.” - Albert Einstein, 1948. Einstein comment on the animated antiwar film, WHERE WILL YOU HIDE?, May 1948, AEA 28-217.

“I do not know how the Third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth – rocks.” - Einstein interview with Alfred Werner, Liberal Judaism, Apr. - May 1949.

+5 # Anarchist 23 2012-09-18 21:19

Although I am quite disappointed in Obama for many things, I will vote for him so those that will benefit from Obamacare Medical plan will have that benefit and hope that other things helpful to my fellow Americans will be passed. Gott Mitt Uns would be a disaster in every way.

+9 # LeeBlack 2012-09-18 21:22

One of Romney's comments was that the U.S. needs to be stronger and proactive. Those are the very things that have driven poor diplomacy in the past. It's why the people in so many countries resent us - we've supported autocratic leaders; we've taken their resources; we've interfered in their lives. Always seen as 'in our interest'. It may be in our interest in the short run but not long term.

+6 # MidwestTom 2012-09-19 04:24

These are the people Romney wants to help:

“Once we squeeze all we can out of the United States, it can dry up and blow away.” — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 2002.

+4 # 666 2012-09-19 12:14

got a source for that quote? (please)

0 # tabonsell 2012-09-19 10:16

It is obvious that Americans on the right such as Romney haven't the faints idea about the MiddleEast, and Islam in particular.

There are radicals over there who really hate the United States and are busy recurring suicide bombers and street protesters to stage massive demonstrations and attack American business and government facilities; and they do it by telling the recruits that America is waging war on Islam.

So what does the right in this country do; it wages war against Islam.

Protesting a Ground Zero mosque that wasn't, burning Korans by a kooky "Christian" pastors or American GIs, burning mosques, having a GOP candidate for president telling people in a back-water Tennessee burg they can violate the US Constitution to prevent a mosque being built in their town, and a right-wing nut-job go into a Sikh temple and blasting away at those inside because he is too stupid to know that Sikh aren't Muslim: all constitute a war against Islam.

Then we have the fools of America making extremely amateurish movies slandering what it is Muslims believe in.

That is aiding and abetting those who hate us and there is not enough intelligence among right-wingers to see the reality of it all.

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