An American military strike against Iran’s nuclear sites should not be ruled out, Mitt Romney has said in interviews with the Israeli media before his visit to the Jewish state.
He also said it was not “right” for the US to act as a negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians, accusing President Barack Obama of publicly criticising its “friend and ally”.
The Republican candidate in the US presidential election arrives in Israel today for a brief visit, during which he is expected to make a speech on foreign policy and Israeli-US relations.
He is scheduled to meet Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and the Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad. He will also visit the Wailing Wall.
Mr Romney has repeatedly attacked Mr Obama over his administration’s stance on Israel and is attempting to win over Jewish voters in the US. More than 70 per cent of Jewish voters backed Mr Obama in 2008, according to exit polls. A recent Gallup poll gave Mr Obama 67 per cent of the Jewish vote compared with 25 per cent for Mr Romney. – (Guardian service)