Mitt Romney says Israeli Culture is more superior than Palestinans

[Mirsub Ali Fazlani]

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JERUSALEM - Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the nearby Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who called his comments racist and out of touch.

``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,'' the Republican presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who breakfasted around a U-shaped table at the luxurious King David Hotel.

The reaction of Palestinian leaders to Romney's comments was swift and pointed.

``What is this man doing here?'' said Saeb Erekat, a top Palestinian official. ``Yesterday, he destroyed negotiations by saying Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and today he is saying Israeli culture is more advanced than Palestinian culture. Isn't this racism?''

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.

Romney, seated next to billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson at the head of the table, told donors at his fundraiser that he had read books and relied on his own business experience to understand why the difference is so great.

``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,'' Romney said, citing an innovative business climate, the Jewish history of thriving in difficult circumstances and the ``hand of providence.''

Romney, in comparing the Israeli and Palestinian economies, made no mention of the fact that Israel has controlled the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem since capturing them in the 1967 war. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but continues to control access, and has enforced a crippling border blockade since the Islamic militant Hamas seized the territory in 2007.

In the West Bank, Israel retains overall control, and Palestinians only have limited self-rule. Israel controls all border crossings in and out of the West Bank, and continues to restrict Palestinian trade and movement.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have said repeatedly that the Palestinian economy can only grow if Israel lifts those restrictions.

And I thought Hermain Cain was stupid

Read more: Romney outrages Palestinians by saying Jewish culture helps make Israel more successful* - NY Daily News

Mitt Romney is Retarded | Angry Pakistani Blogger

[nuclearpak]

Why don't we give this guy a Nobel peace prize eh?

[BelligerentPacifist]

Why don't we give this guy a Nobel peace prize eh?

Next year maybe when he's in office.

[IZVINITE]

Romney is not racist...he's culturally challenged.

[Arian]

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.

Really?

By the way, what's more superior? superior is enough xD

[Fazlu]

Next American president Mitt Romney. Praise Israel--Become the worlds most powerful man.

Not that i find it wrong. The whole world is a nuthouse anyway.

[Soheil]

Culture ???

[truthseer]

Apparently, Israel is more successful economically because of the Hand of Providence. It couldn't have anything to do with the sanctions imposed on the Palestinians, now could it?

As Ahmadinejad said in an interview yesterday, he went there to lick his master's feet

[Mirsub Ali Fazlani]

Next year maybe when he's in office.

Yeah, maybe 3 weeks tops (like a certain Obama we all know).

[Soheil]

Yeah, maybe 3 weeks tops (like a certain Obama we all know).

[Cheetah786]

Next year maybe when he's in office.

Remember Obama got his Nobel peace prize by having few 1000 killed so Romney has to do better then that.

[Soheil]

Remember Obama got his Nobel peace prize by having few 1000 killed so Romney has to do better then that.

1000...000

[IZVINITE]

Romney denies criticizing Palestinian culture

WARSAW, Poland—Mitt Romney insisted Tuesday he was not specifically talking about Palestinian culture at a fundraiser in Israel on Monday when he was quoted suggesting culture was the reason for the economic disparity between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"That's an interesting topic that deserves scholarly analysis, but I actually didn't address that," Romney told Fox News' Carl Cameron, adding he didn't "intend" to talk about the subject in his campaign. "Instead, I will point out … that the choices a society makes have a profound impact on the economy and vitality of that society."
Palestinian officials accused Romney of making "racist" statements after the Republican candidate was quoted comparing Israel's economy with that of the Palestinian territories.
"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," Romney told a group of Jewish donors at a Jerusalem fundraiser that netted more than $1 million for his campaign.
The Republican candidate told supporters he began noting "enormous disparities" between neighboring countries during his time in the business world and cited a 1998 book, "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations" by David Landes, which studied why some countries did better than others.
"He says if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it's this: Culture makes all the difference," Romney told supporters. "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."
In the interview with Fox News, Romney played down his perceived gaffes during his foreign tour over the last week, including his comment to NBC News that he found London's Olympic preparations "disconcerting." He accused the media of being more interested in "finding something to write about" than focusing on real issues.
"They'll instead try to find anything else to divert from the fact that these last four years have been tough years for our country," Romney said.

[Solomon2]

Rather than snide comments, Pakistanis who value moral and productive thinking will want to read this book, which details the Israel Mr. Romney was talking about:

link

[Irfan Baloch]

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he is right

israeli culture is better than even the Americans.

I think he is suffering from anti-Semitism by comparing the culture of a country with the refugees in some camps and bombed out buildings.
he should build up some courage and compare the Israeli culture with the American South,