(via Thinkprogress).Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum denied the existence of Palestinians, claiming them as citizens of Israel during a campaign stop on Friday.
"All the people who live in the West Bank are Israelis, they're not Palestinians," the former Pennsylvania Senator told a participant at an Iowa campaign event.
During an exchange with the participant over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Santorum offered New Mexico and Texas as comparison points for the West Bank, noting that they were all won in wars.
QUESTIONER: Do you think Israel should dismantle its settlements?SANTORUM: No. The West Bank, is this part of Israel?QUESTIONER: [inaudible] According to 48? [inaudible][...]SANTORUM: How did we get New Mexico and Texas?QUESTIONER: Through war.SANTORUM: How did they get the West Bank? [inaudible] Through a war. Should we give Texas back to Mexico?QUESTIONER: Well I don’t think you should recognize recent annexations.SANTORUM: Oh, so it depends whether it’s recent or not? So we should have given New Mexico and Texas back 150 years go?[...]The bottom line is that that is legitimately Israeli country. And they have a right to do within their country just like we have a right to do within our country. If they want to negotiate with Israelis, and all the people who live in the West Bank are Israelis, they’re not Palestinians. This is Israeli land.