By COLlive reporter
Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul said he would support moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Grace Wyler reports in the Business Insider.
It is a surprising position that contradicts conventional wisdom about Paul’s stance toward the Jewish state, the Insider said.
The Texan Congressman, labeled a conservative and libertarian non interventionist, has called on the U.S. to cut aid to Israel in a December 2011 debate, leading Republican Jewish Coalition not to invite him to its candidates forum.
In the past, Paul stated on Iranian state TV that the Gaza Strip is “a concentration camp” caused by Israel and that “Hamas is a legitimate elected government” referring to the terror group known for murdering Jews.
In his defense, Paul’s supporters said he was “the only candidate that actually respects Israel and their sovereignty” and released this video:
This past Wednesday, at a private meeting with evangelical leaders, Paul was asked whether he would sign an Executive Order to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a major policy objective for Israeli hardliners and many in the Christian Right.
“The real issue here is not what America wants, but what does Israel want,” Paul told evangelical leaders, according to a transcript of the meeting obtained by Business Insider. “If Israel wants their capital to be Jerusalem, then the United States should honor that.”
“How would we like it if some other nation said ‘We decided to recognize New York City as your capital instead, so we will build our embassy there?'” he added.
Here’s Ron Paul speaking about foreign policy & Israel:
Truth be told, many of U.S. presidential candidates in recent years – both Republican and Democrat – have pledged to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, yet it remains in Tel Aviv.
This is just canned Paul prop. Belongs in the prop can.
exactly!!! ron paul!!!!!
He is the only candidate that will give us real freedom and for Jews that is very important to be able to serve hashem fully
The rebbe even said that Israel should not depend on America so much they are very strong smart and capable on their own!!! Ron Paul has been voicing the same thoughts for over 50 years he will not switch his mind the second he becomes president like hem hem mitt Romney!!!!!
Ron Paul is the only honest politician I have ever seen in my lifetime………….He’s not pro Israel or Pro Arab. He’s just pro American and believes that the U.S. constitution prohibits intervention in other country’s affairs. Thus, if Israel says her capital city is Jerusalem, then so be it. If there is a problem between Israel and the Arabs, let them solve it. …… I really don’t perceive any personal bias in his views. He definately doesn’t seem to be the Jew hater the mass media in Israel is portraying him to be for some reason…….
PRESIDENT PAUL! end the patriot act end ndaa audit the fed LIBRATY PEACE no more wars RON PAUL
the guy’s a nut who really believes that america should have no say at all in anything going on around the world, that’s why he believes that the US shouldn’t give aid to Israel, that’s why he believes the US should not decide where to make its embassy in another country, that’s why he believes we should recognize Hamas as a legitimate government because they were elected, and that’s why he believes we should let Iran do whatever they want and get a nuke too, he’s not pro or against anyone, he’s just an ideological nut job that thinks that… Read more »
You got it right. However, I DO think you can take his word that he will leave his personal feelings out if it. His policy is non-interventionism and this would therefore stop him from letting any of his personal opinions get in the way of decisions he could make regarding Israel.
Before deciding who’s the best candidate ask your self I am registered to vote is all of my family members over 18 registered if the answer is NO then why waste your time discussing politics you DON’T count so please for the benefit of the Jewish community register to vote and actually make it your business to VOTE on election day including primary’s, as for if you should be a republican or democrat that you need to decide for your self I personally am a republican.
Hamas IS a legitimately-elected government, which is why the entire Gaza should be fair game when they launch rockets; it’s a straight-up act of war of one country on another. It should be no different from when we nuked Japanese civilians when their government/military attacked us. This is a point Israel should make relentlessly.
The picture I see after watching all these clips is, personally he doesn’t like Israel all that much, thinks Gaza is a ‘concentration camp’ and supports Hamas as a legit Government. BUT PROFESSIONALLY he won’t get involved. and we should just take his word that he will leave his personal feeling out of it…. hmmmmm…
was a ‘concentration camp’. If he did say so, that is definitely not a fair comment. However, previously he has said that Israel should not get aid primarily because Israel should be self dependent and self reliant, and because of its aid from America Israel relies too much on American opinion instead of creating policies for Israels’ own good.
The ‘Concentration Camp’ comment still needs an explanation.