Mitt Romney:
Mitt Romney cites completely incorrect numbers for per capita income in Israel and Palestine:
Yes, the economic difference between Israel and Palestine is stark, but it has nothing to do with culture. Israel has a military occupation and blockade of the West Bank and Gaza where common materials like cement and even cilantro are forbidden entry into the occupied Palestinian lands. The US gives Israel about 3 billion annually, equal to about 500 dollars for every man, woman and child in Israel. Palestine does not receive direct aid from the US government.
Mitt Romney's social awkwardness and his lack of historical and geopolitical awareness make him an unlikely presidential candidate.
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| JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, - JULY 29: US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visits the Western Wall on July 29, 2012 in Jerusalem's old city, Israel. Mitt Romney visits Israel as part of a three-nation foreign tour which also includes visits to Poland and Great Britain. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) |
"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,"Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:
"And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things,"
"It is a racist statement and this man doesn't realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation,"
Mitt Romney cites completely incorrect numbers for per capita income in Israel and Palestine:
Israel's per capita GDP was $31,000 in 2011
West Bank and Gaza per capita GDP of just over $1,500
Yes, the economic difference between Israel and Palestine is stark, but it has nothing to do with culture. Israel has a military occupation and blockade of the West Bank and Gaza where common materials like cement and even cilantro are forbidden entry into the occupied Palestinian lands. The US gives Israel about 3 billion annually, equal to about 500 dollars for every man, woman and child in Israel. Palestine does not receive direct aid from the US government.
Mitt Romney's social awkwardness and his lack of historical and geopolitical awareness make him an unlikely presidential candidate.
We were just discussing this at home this morning. They reported his aides as saying that Romney is just saying what he believes, how frightening is that?
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