RJC Lauds Romney's Jerusalem Speech, Sees 'Clear Choice' for Jewish Voters
Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) praised Gov. Mitt Romney for remarks today in Jerusalem affirming the vital importance of our nation's alliance with Israel.
RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "While Gov. Romney has been scrupulous in avoiding any criticism of President Obama while on foreign soil, this galvanizing speech crystallizes the clear choice facing American voters. Plainly, President Romney's approach to our critical alliance with Israel would be a vast improvement over President Obama's.
"Four years ago, then-Likud party leader Netanyahu emphasized to candidate Obama that for Israelis, there was no concern more urgent than the rising nuclear threat posed by Iran. That Prime Minister Netanyahu felt it necessary to make similar remarks today demonstrates how President Obama has missed critical opportunities to address that threat.
"When the Prime Minister told Gov. Romney, 'We have to be honest and say that all the diplomacy and sanctions so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota,' the message is clear: we need a new approach - one that is commensurate with the seriousness of the threat.
"In his speech today, Gov. Romney reiterated a point he's emphasized consistently since he visited Israel in 2007 on a trip RJC was proud to sponsor: 'the conduct of Iran's leaders gives us no reason to trust them with nuclear material.' Prime Minister Netanyahu called special attention to that point to emphasize that saying that Iran can't be allowed 'to have a nuclear weapon' is an inadequate formulation given the nature of the regime and the stakes for Israel.
"Gov. Romney speaks for the vast majority of Jewish Americans - and of all Americans - when he explains why we hold dear a friendship based on shared interests and shared values. We appreciate that he made the effort to travel to Israel to make that statement - and that he's promised to make the Jewish state the destination for his first foreign voyage as President."