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Subscribe to RSSSpeaking in Jerusalem, Mitt Romney says that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons "must be our highest national security priority." Watch his entire speech.
JERUSALEM - Mitt Romney made an unannounced trip to one of the holiest sites in Judaism, the Western Wall, on Sunday, as the presumptive GOP nominee continued his week-long overseas trip.
Romney, joined by his wife, Ann, and son Josh, along with a bevy of aides, was escorted by American and Israeli security through a throng of well-wishers, press and worshippers gathered at the wall on Tisha B'av, considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.
Several top Romney donors were also seen at the wall, escorted by aides. A contingent of Romney donors have traveled here for a Monday fundraiser at a Jerusalem hotel.
Romney was shown a diagram of the second Temple, of which the wall is the only remnant. The destruction of the second Temple by Roman forces nearly 2000 years ago is one of the events mourned on this day, contributing to big crowds gathered there Sunday.
The Rabbi of the Western Wall read Romney a passage, and Romney placed his hand on the wall and appeared to pray. Ann Romney prayed at a separate section of the wall reserved for women. In keeping with tradition, both Mitt and Ann Romney wrote personal messages or prayers on pieces of paper and tucked them into cracks in the wall. An aide said it would not be appropriate to disclose what the couple wrote.
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As the Romneys left the wall amidst a crowd of people, Mitt Romney reached out and shook hands with supporters, and many Israelis shouted political messages at him as he passed.
“Mitt Romney! God will make you president because you came to Israel!” one man shouted.
Jason Reed / Reuters
U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney visits the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, during prayers marking Tisha B'Av in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday.
"Free Jonathan Pollard," shouted several other men, referring to an American citizen convicted of spying for Israel, whose case has caused some friction between the two closely allied nations.
Earlier in the day, Romney met with Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli president Shimon Peres. On Sunday night, Romney is due to deliver a speech on the importance of the American-Israeli alliance from Jerusalem, where he will be introduced by the city's mayor.
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Romney aides said the speech would focus heavily on the importance of the alliance, and the shared values that undergird it.
Excerpts released by the campaign indicate it would also address anxieties over the dangers posed to Israel and the world by a nuclear-armed Iran, which a Romney adviser earlier said was an "existential threat" to Israel, adding that a Romney administration would "respect" a unilateral Israeli effort to eliminate Iran's nuclear program if sanctions and other peaceful options failed.
"Today, the regime in Iran is five years closer to developing nuclear weapons capability," Romney was expected to say in his remarks. "Preventing that outcome must be our highest national security priority."
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Which part of the Bible shows you can call your president a liar and get by with it? Or any other offensive, derogatory thing? And since some have become so adept at lying, how do you even know he said what you think he said. He would resign? Over anything? I doubt he said that. What is comforting is that for every lie told against Obama he will be repaid double. And I hope it is with votes. People whine and rant about what kind of president he has been and the shape of our country. They need only to check history for 3 or 4 years after the depression and see what a mess we could be in or think about the fact we could have had McCain and Palin. Now wouldn't we be in a fine mess with them now? And we have to remember in the Bible it says you need to pay your taxes. It doesn't say move your money off shore to get out of them. It says how you treat others is paramount. It doesn't say, close all the plants you can to make all the money you can. And by the way in Israel is Romney using a written statement or teleprompter. Would he be a hypocrite if he was. I know how awful it is to know what you are going to say so you don't embarrass yourself and the whole country to boot. Romney gets a F for this trip. Which doesn't average well with his previous statements and stands on the poor, the rich, the trees, cookies, nascar owners, garage elevators, anything. Vote no to save our country embarrassment bigtime!
Word has it, Mitt went to Israel and the wailing wall in search of the lost of angel Moroni and the golden plates Jospeh Smith gave back to him in 1829 in order to prove that Mormonism is in fact a legitimate religion based on actual facts and not a "pipe" dream. Unnfortunately, Mitt (Willard) was unable to find the plates. But he did run into angel Gabrial who said he just missed Moroni. Moroni had just left to hit the head and then leave for an Israeli disco to meet some girl angels.
Yea, make fun of other religions, you only degrade yourself.
ST miller, And Romney is to be blamed for that?
Jensee, Mormons are designated jewish?
Idunnogul, Mormons are a lost tribe of Israel?
Imaginations running wild here today!
Does he even understand that his visit there is an insult to Jews? Hey folks, remember he is a Morman--they believe they are the "lost tribe of Israel" spoken about in the Bible..Israel to America via lost ship to Mexico, a long walk to Maine spreading the word to Native people, buried tablets and so much more..just ask one.. I heard it all from them over and over when they visited me and I visited them. Its a tough sell to me.
It's funny the GOP people think they know what they're talking about. But then as the Republican party has demonstrated profusely; You don't need facts to win an election. Just the best spin doctors. The fact that they can make universal healthcare seem unappealing is nothing short of genius.
Mitt "The Deceiver" Romney
AND THEY CHASED HIM OUT OF THEIR TOO! President Obama, you better order exlax ETCH-A-SKETCH back home before he gets us in another war!