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Subscribe to RSSTAMPA, Fla. -- It’s government, “not cultures” that define the difference between Israelis and Palestinians. That’s according to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who appeared to differ with presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney as he tried to defend him.
“I am sure that Gov. Romney was not talking about difference in cultures, or difference in anybody superior or inferior,” said McCain, a chief Romney foreign policy surrogate, today during a news conference after an event here with Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “What I’m sure Gov. Romney was talking was that the Israeli economy has grown and prospered in a dramatic fashion. And unfortunately, the Palestinians have not had that same economic development.
“And that goes to the leadership of the Palestinians. Everybody knows that Yasser Arafat was corrupt. And we also know that the Palestinian people have not been blessed with the kind of government that has lower regulations, less taxes, entrepreneurship, which have caused the Israeli economy to be one of the world’s most successful. It has nothing to do with cultures. It has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. But facts of the booming Israeli economy has to do with the kind of government that the Israeli people have freely and democratically elected which has given them a very prosperous country.”
McCain noted he had not seen or heard Romney’s remarks, but that didn’t stop him from defending what Romney meant.
“I’m sure I know what he was saying, though,” McCain continued. “And what he was saying, though, is that the Israelis have had a government with less regulation, lower taxes, which has allowed them to have a strong and prosperous economy. Unfortunately, when you go over to many of the Palestinian areas, you do not see that same kind of economic development. Governments matter.”
Yesterday at a fundraiser in Israel, Romney said:
“[A]as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel which is about 21,000 dollars and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality.”
Then paraphrasing a book by a Harvard professor called, “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations,” he added:
“[I]f you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference. 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.”
The Associated Press picked up on the comments and noted: “Romney said some economic histories have theorized that ‘culture makes all the difference’.” And that “Palestinian reaction to Romney was swift and pointed.”
It quoted Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said: "It is a racist statement and this man doesn't realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation.”
And AP added:
“While speaking to U.S. audiences, Romney often highlights culture as a key to economic success and emphasizes the power of the American entrepreneurial spirit compared to the values of other countries. But his decision to highlight cultural differences in a region where such differences have helped fuel violence for generations raises new questions about the former businessman's diplomacy skills.”
The Romney campaign called for a correction from the AP, because of "his remarks being grossly mischaracterized," it claimed.
The campaign also passed around the broader context of his speech – and highlighted that he had made similar remarks in Chicago in March while talking about other countries.
But that context does not appear to change the meaning of what Romney was saying. And he certainly did not make the case that government was a reason for the differences. (That context, sent by the campaign, is copied at the end of this post in full.)
*** UPDATE: NBC's Garrett Haake, traveling with the campaign, reports from Gdansk, Poland, that senior Romney campaign strategist Stuart Stevens told reporters he takes issue with the story, calling it "completely manufactured," "sloppy," and even "invented."
He said the quote from Romney "revolves around an observation the governor has made in his book" and "mentioned in big speeches." The story, he claims, "never should have been written, was not handled responsibly and the Romney campaign was never called for comment. The economic situations for prosperity are interesting to study and important. "
He added that the comments were "not in any way an attempt to slight the Palestinians, and everyone knows that." And he even goes so far as to say: "It is regrettable whenever a story is handled improperly and I think we all agree on that." ***
--
McCain also said he agreed with Romney that the American embassy in Israel should be moved to Jerusalem.
“Absolutely. I agree that the embassy should be moved to Jerusalem, and I think that those who are strong supporters of Israel should take note that the President of the United States has failed to take a position on the embassy location,” McCain said. “And it should be in Jerusalem and that has been the subject of numerous resolutions by the United States Congress over the years.”
The American embassy – and every other country's in the world – is currently located in Tel Aviv. At the heart of the long-running peace process dispute between Israelis and Palestinians is where a Palestinian capital would be. Palestinians would like it to be centered in East Jerusalem.
Here are the remarks, passed along by the Romney campaign:
Gov. Romney: “I was thinking this morning as I prepared to come into this room of a discussion I had across the country in the United States about my perceptions about differences between countries. And as you come here and you see the GDP per capita for instance in Israel which is about 21,000 dollars and you compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority which is more like 10,000 dollars per capita you notice a dramatic, stark difference in economic vitality. And that is also between other countries that are near or next to each other. Chile and Ecuador, Mexico and the United States. I noted that part of my interest when I used to be in the world of business is I would travel to different countries was to understand why there were such enormous disparities in the economic success of various countries. I read a number of books on the topic. One, that is widely acclaimed, is by someone named Jared Diamond called ‘Guns, Germs and Steel,’ which basically says the physical characteristics of the land account for the differences in the success of the people that live there. There is iron ore on the land and so forth. And you look at Israel and you say you have a hard time suggesting that all of the natural resources on the land could account for all the accomplishment of the people here. And likewise other nations that are next door to each other have very similar, in some cases, geographic elements. But then there was a book written by a former Harvard professor named ‘The Wealth and Poverty of Nations.’ And in this book Dr. Landes describes differences that have existed—particularly among the great civilizations that grew and why they grew and why they became great and those that declined and why they declined. And after about 500 pages of this lifelong analysis—this had been his study for his entire life—and he’s in his early 70s at this point, he says this, he says, if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference. 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. One, I recognize the hand of providence in selecting this place. I’m told in a Sunday school class I attended— I think my son Tagg was teaching the class. He’s not here. I look around to see. Of course he’s not here. He was in London. He taught a class in which he was describing the concern on the part of some of the Jews that left Egypt to come to the promised land, that in the promised land was down the River Nile, that would provide the essential water they had enjoyed in Egypt. They came here recognizing that they must be relied upon, themselves and the arm of God to provide rain from the sky. And this therefore represented a sign of faith and a show of faith to come here. That this is a people that has long recognized the purpose in this place and in their lives that is greater than themselves and their own particular interests, but a purpose of accomplishment and caring and building and serving. There’s also something very unusual about the people of this place. And Dan Senor-- And Dan, I saw him this morning, I don’t know where he is, he’s probably out twisting someone’s arm—There’s Dan Senor, co-author of ‘Start-up Nation,’ described-- If you haven’t read the book, you really should-- Described why it is Israel is the leading nation for start-ups in the world. And why businesses one after the other tend to start up in this place. And he goes through some of the cultural elements that have led Israel to become a nation that has begun so many businesses and so many enterprises and that is becomes so successful.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks at Fundraiser, Israel, 7/30/12)
***
Gov. Romney: “Now as you know, this November we face a -- an important decision. Our choice will be not just one of party and personality. This election is going to be about principle. Our economic freedom will be on the ballot. And I intend to offer the American people a choice. I spent 25 years in business, by the way as you probably know. My business used to take me to different parts of the world and -- and I was often struck by enormous differences between different nations that in many cases were living right next door to each other. I -- I was interested in the differences in their prosperity and how it was that nations so close to each other in terms of geography, could be so different in terms of prosperity. I mean look at Mexico and the United States, Israel and Egypt, Chile and Ecuador. And -- and I read a number of books that purported to explain the differences. One of them by Jared Diamond called "Guns, Germs and Steel", argued that the difference was due largely to the minerals in the ground and the -- the physical characteristics, natural resources associated with different countries. But that didn't explain it all, just a part. And then I happened to read a book by Professor David Landes called, "The Wealth and Poverty of Nations." And in that he -- he traces the history of all the great civilizations on the earth. Those that have come and gone. And after about 500 pages of scholarly analysis he concludes with -- with this observation. He says, "If we learn anything from the economic -- the history of economic development it is this, culture makes all the difference." Culture makes all the difference. Culture. What is it about America's culture that's made us the greatest economic power in the history of the earth? And of course there are a lot of things that come to mind. Our work ethic. Our appreciation for -- for education. The -- the willingness of Americans to take risk. Our commitment to honor contract oath, our family devotion. Our -- our commitment to purpose greater than ourselves. Our patriotism.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks, Chicago, IL, 3/19/12)
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Mitt is a bully. This is now fact. And what is it that bullies do? Start d a m n wars.
Romney called Russia "our geopolitical enemy number one." "Russia, this is, without question, our number one geopolitical foe. They - they fight every cause for the world's worst actors," said Romney.
After his career at Bain Capital where he helped outsource American jobs to China, Romney has now accused China of “cheating” and "stealing American jobs". He warned China that if he is in the White House, there will be consequences for unfair trade, “Unless China changes its ways.
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq and the "troop surge". Romney has expressed support for an eventual reduction in military presence in Iraq but has strongly opposed a timetable for withdrawal.
In a June 2007 New Hampshire Republican debate, Romney was asked if he agreed "that the use of tactical nuclear weapons, potentially, would be possible if that were the only way to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb?" Governor Romney responded that "You don't take options off the table, but what you do is stand back and say, 'What's going on here?
Larry, Mitt bad bad man. No soup for him!
For those who believe the Israeli "occupation" is responsible for the disorganized, corrupt, kleptocratic economy of the "Palestinians," name one country in the area besides Israel with a decent economy for its people. Even the ones with oil fail to allow trickle-down to the working class but keep the money for the top layer while the rest suffer in virtual slavery. And is this why the Jordanians, occupants of the larger-than-Israel "Palestinian" homeland, keep their fellow "Palestinians" (whom they do not call "Jordanians") in camps for multiple generations over the past 70 years?
rachel, the problem is that they don't know how to do the 'trickle down' economy like American Republicans do. Maybe if all of the American Republicans, including people like the Koch brothers, went to Palestine, they could show them how our trickle down economic growth program has worked so well these past few decades.
If we were pouring two-to twelve billion dollars a year into the Palestinian effort as we have been Israel since 1946, they might have a blossoming economy and be our ally, too. Israel has been one of the biggest welfare programs supported by the United States government for years ~ ~ and with all that "culture" and booming economy, we are still funneling billions into her coffers every year.
We did pour billions into the Pals but the corrupt leaders took it all. Israel turns around and gives it back to us, buying military equipment.
Can we just take of OWN? God will take care of Isreal, Palestine and the others in the Middle East - depending on which God they talk to. Here (US), the God is money - Mitt has a good handle on that - right?
John , why Not just Do the Republicans and the Dems a Favor and replace the (R) behind Your Your Name with a (D) ? Your politics are much more inline with the Democrats anyway .
The Arabs are so goddam busy trying to attack Israel, they dont concentrate in making a living. That is lod of bs that the Isrealis took all of the good land. Most of that land was useless. The Israelis fixed up large areas by turning arrid land to farms. Then the Arabs try to push us into the sea and now they just want the land back. WTF. Are you kidding me?
Now the Jew haters and Arabs are mad that we embraced high tech and are being successful. How about you stop lobbing bombs over the border from Lebanon and the Palestinian areas and get to work and stop complaining. You think we wanted to waste money and good a building a stupid wall across the country. We had to protect ourselves.
Lets not forget that Arafat died a millionaire. What type of terrorist dies a millionaire. The type that steals from his own people. In Israel leaders go on trial for crimes. With the Palestinains, you become a hero.
JP, ever been to the West Bank? Palestinians live there under occupation forces of Israel. Before 1948, all of that region had been owned and farmed by Palestinians since the days of Christ! And then some diplomats in Paris decided to create a new nation for the Jews and told the Palestinians to move out. The diplomats went about their business and the Israelis and Palestinians have been foes ever since. Wonder why?
It's hard for a people to prosper under someone else's gun. The Jews didn't prosper too well in the ghettos controlled by the Nazis and the Palestinians won't prosper under their current conditions either.
Bruce, I will say it again. The Israelis BOUGHT the land from the Arabs starting in the late 19th Century and acquired more when it was used as a base to attack them three times.
About time someone recognized what really happened, Israel bought the land and when attacked they seized the land that threatened them, and then stopped. They had the capability and motivation to conquer the attackers countries but chose restraint.
I detest the Hamas apologists who continually lie about Israel's history and present. Stop watching the anti-semitic crap and research for yourself.
The problem that Romney has is that he simply doesn't know when or how to keep his mouth shut. I you aspire to be the head of the free world you have to learn that you can't just say anything. You have to be able to deal with everyone and you can't go around insulting people. You have to be astute enough to understand what remarks might be insulting and to figure out how to avoid those subjects or deal with them diplomatically.
Of course it is true that the Jewish culture in Israel is superior to the Palestinian culture in terms of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship, but politicians and statesmen can't go around saying things like that and expect to be accepted equally by both societies involved.
It is also true that the Palestinians can do better, and they are justified in pointing out the obstacles that are in their way.
As I see it the major determinor is education. Jews have always emphasized education as the way to give them an edge as a minority culture among many in the world. Palestinians have not done that. They have had the misfortune to be lead by opportunists who see governing as the way to personal power and enrichment rather than a civic duty to their people. And for that matter the Palestinians for several decades did not see themselves as one people, because in truth they were a collection of several cultures and traditions whose only commonality was that they left Israel on the orders of the Arab League in 1948.
I don't know if there will ever be a two state solution or not. But in terms of Palestinian prosperity there will never be a solution until they turn from hating Jews (and each other) to loving their children enough to educate them in the arts and sciences and the goals of social progress and economic creativity and the practice of tolerance.
The way he has threatened Iran, I'm surprised that the Iranians didn't initiate a first strike against Israel this morning!
For most, our words don't matter too much. But when you are a President of the United States or even a pretender, such as Romney, the whole world pays attention to every word uttered.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS:
"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back," he began, defending his policy of higher tax rates on high earners. "They know they didn't -- look, if you've been successful, you didn't get there on your own. You didn't get there on your own. I'm always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something -- there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.
"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business -- you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."
BARRACK OBAMA
Israel had and has the benefit of American investment and tax supported foreign aid.
This election is a choice between two visions for the future of America: One vision is for continuation of the progressive vision of a balance between equality and freedom as the moral foundation of justice, and a more recent conservative vision of an entitlement due the wealthy and the equivalence of corporations to the rights and protections of natural persons under the Constitution.
A progressive future is one in which government is a custodian of the public trust and advocates for justice; where justice is a balance between equality and freedom. Government as a custodian of the public trust means that everyone plays by the same rules and that everyone is equal before the law. Public trust means the rights of the people to preserve and protect the common property of the United States is not severable to the interests of privatization. Public trust means that a corporation has no rights except those given to it by law and does not have equal standing with a natural born person under the Constitution.
The conservative future is one of a hostile corporate takeover with privatization of government functions. The corporate takeover means that having wealth is an effective barrier to others participating in the process of government. It means that government would no longer serve the interests of the community but collaborate with the wealthy corporate owners to establish a separate set of laws that entitle them to preferential treatment while creating barriers to competition by eliminating opportunities for others.
The free market is a myth: if it isn't regulated by government to prevent fraud, it is regulated by the corporate oligarchy to prevent competition. Free means not having to go to jail for fraud and theft.
Freedom of speech for corporations is a political myth: the right to free speech is a right of the natural born person, not an artifact of legal convention.
The conservative options for health care are no birth control, no abortion and no health insurance unapproved by a corporate CEO. The progressive option is universal health care and the right of women to make their own health decisions.
This election is about education for citizenship, not choice for a privileged elite.
This election is about who gets to rewrite the tax laws: a privileged elite who personally benefits from tax entitlements to the wealthy, or one who advocates for tax fairness.
This election is about who gets to nominate justices to the Supreme Court: pack a court with conservative judicial activists who want to roll back human rights, or one who advocates for judicial competence.
This election is a moral choice between affiliation or aggression, empathy or egotism, service or selfishness, cooperation or competitiveness.
The tale of two visions is the difference between a government of the people, by the people and for the people, and a government run by a plutocracy of wealth and corporate power.
the progressive movement in america is rife with modern day communism.
...the socialist movement as well.
i see lots of communist wording in your post....and your love of big brother taking care of the peasant people of the united states.
anti-capitalism....anti free-trade.....anti-choice.....taxing the rich to 50%.
it's sad that communists still try influence elcetions....but those of us that lived during the cold war remembers just how treacherous communism was...and that it needs to be driven out of the free world by any means necessary.
communism has been labeled "anti-american" by our government some 60 years ago.....it has resurfaced in the form of the progressive movement.
i will be writing my senator about the ammerican progressive-communist connection and the effects it's having on our highest offices.
Hear, hear!
Romney just doubled down: "economically successful countries are culturally superior": "To give the full context, Romney discussed two economic theories, one attributing success to the physical characteristics of the land, while another attributes it to culture. He argued that the successes of Israel, the U.S. and Chile can be attributed to strong cultures; conversely, the geographically similar Palestinian, Ecuadorean and Mexican economies are the result of a poorer culture."
How anyone could think that Mexico has a culture inferior to that of Chile is demented.
The man is actually insane!
Culture=money.
What about a nation, say, that gave us philosophy, mathematics, art and democracy? Well, they're poor so they don't count. What -- you say that they're Greeks? So what? They're broke, so they are inferior.
1940s Germany would have gotten his nod.
The main reason for the lack of economic development in Palestine is the aggression by Israel.They are still trying to take the Palestinian's land for YEARS, and have been reprimanded numerous times by the U.N. for their "settlements". As far as the economic development of Israel, the U.S. gives over $100 BILLION in foriegn aid to Israel each year, and the Jews (I'm not trying to be racist) don't want you to know this. How much does the U.S. give Palestine in economic aid? Less than 1% of what is given to Israel!
Romney needs to get his act together and his facts staight or he will NEVER be elected! I'm not going to vote for him.
There is only one good thing to say about the UN at this point: Their Manhattan headquarters might be used for condos.
Romney must really enjoy the taste of his feet because he sure does stick his foot into that big stupid mouth of his an awful lot.
A real presidential contender he is.
I will give him credit for trying to suck up to the Jewish votes. Seeing pictures of him at the Wailing Wall was nothing but an act, not a class act either.
So mitt, piss off both the Brits and the Palestinians in one week? Good foreign policy you got going there.
Who's next on your foreign policy barn burning tour?
Romney cares little or nothing about Israel, it's Sheldon Adelson he's sucking up to, specifically his wallet.
@ American with Pride:Who's next on your foreign policy barn burning tour? I think when he hits Poland he will attempt some stand up comedy by telling pollack jokes.
hey alaskagirl759554-
before you start disparaging a country or race, you really should learn to spell Polack. Try using Websters dictionary. What's your excuse for ignorance?
Yeah, I can say it. My ancestry is Polish and I'm damn proud of that too.
McCain and Romney seem to forget the billions of dollars America has pumped into the Israeli economy over decades. If we had been half as generous with the Palestinians, they too would have a thriving economy.
Israel and Palestinian problems deal with, Identity, Survival, and Land. They are so interlinked into one string, you can't pull one, without unraveling the other two.
Identity, Survival, and land. It has nothing to do with belief, prayer, or god.
Both feel they are persecuted. Both believe they are at the cliff side about to fall off. Both feel in order to live, they need the land they currently occupy.
But both party's feel that the other party has to go.
Either they can get their @!$%# together, come up with a compromise, to fuse their two cultures together, or...one side has to die.
You can live with each other, or you can attempt to exterminate the other side.
FOR SALE- Presidency of United States. Must be able to think on your butt. Be an embarrassment abroad to your country. Have experience hiding assets and money laundering. Be able to look people in the eye and say HUH? Must have expericence in O'Romney care. Make sure no one in your family has Military service. Belong to a cult. Must have a republican background with no monetary experience of actually making your own money. Must be able to lie,cheat and smile at the same time.
Millions of $$$ needed and you get a receipt for a boondoggle.
Funny K, right up to the "must have a republican background," I was SURE you were talkkng about Odumbo.
JOHN, JOHN! You had your chance to lead us and you chose your corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY that you are calling a prosperous government! But for whom? The ONE-PERCENTERS, NOT the 99% American People, piss on them! Same old corruption, NEVER ENDING!
99% American People, vote 100% STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC and let's rid our selves of their corruption because of their UNCONTROLLED CAPITALISTIC GREED! SAME ON YOU, JOHN, JOHN! Is this what you want to take to NEVER, NEVER LAND with you???
mindyabusiness -
So you answer is the same self fulfilling prophecy the it has always been. Blacks come from poor families therefore the will always be poor.
Strange I went to a predominatly black school in Florida, same books same teachers, my parents didn't have a lot of money, I put myself through college without any loans or grants.
Difference is I was taught to respect myself and others.
It isn't taking Rmoney long to annoy the rest of the world is it? That God that a: he's coming home soon, and b: he's not president. Is this what republican foreign policy has come to? Banal blather from a bean-counter?
This is the part of the trip where he starts payback to Sheldon Adelson.
Gee, Mr. Romney, how does it feel to be "mischaracterized" as you put it? I don't believe for one minute that he meant otherwise in his remarks.
I'd say if you are Worshiping two diffferent God's, your "cultural differences" are the Least of your problems. Time for the Senile Dinosaur McCain to put his Fossilized brain in permanent airplane mpde.
I'd like McCain to point out anywhere in Romney's speech(es) where he mentions the role of governance or taxes or regulations in regard to success as a country.
They just make this stuff up as they go along and believe no one will notice.
First the Anglo-Saxon comment from the Romney campaign implying that a certain President of the United States lacks such a heritage and is therefore different from Romney who does have such a heritage, And now it's culture wars between Romney, the Palestinians and the Jews of Israel. Sheesh - his first major attempt at looking statesmanship-like isn't going too well.
He could have just come out and said Jews are smarter than Palestinians and that's why Israel has prospered and the Palestinians have not.
Could be that due to the ungodly treatment, isolation and denial of access beyond the West Bank imposed on the Palestinians by Israel might have something to do with the difference.
Funny how the Obama toadies never find fault in the mis-steps of their 'Dear Leader'.
Obama's made quite a few gaffes, but it's always overlooked by the Obama sycophants.
Instead they attack Romney with puerile name-calling and petty insults.
Of course, that's all you have; you can't tout Obama's record!
It's the economy, stupid!!
Romney has NO business - as a candidate - making remarks such as these on foreign soil! He is not a legitimate representative of our country, neither a politician, a diplomat, etc. I understand he must pacify his Jewish-American donors to keep the MILLIONS rolling in ... but it is wholly unacceptable that he advocate an agenda which serves only to make a volatile situation worse: first, he opines that Israelis are superior to Palestinians (refusing to acknowledge that Israel's occupation of the West Bank for 25+ years is largely responsible for the disparity), then, he opines that Israel should move its capital to Jerusalem! Jerusalem is home to THREE faiths - it belongs to the world, not the Israelis, the Palestinians, or the Muslims.
romney has every right to go where ever he wants.
...just like obama did when he was running for president.
get over yourself.
You missed the point, keck.
mlwells, you can't tell Romney that he can't talk to anyone. At least, not so far. Leave Odumbass in office, and you might get your wish.
And don't forget that it was our very own Barry Soetoro who bowed to a king and apologized for our "arrogance" -- and that was when he WAS our leader. Not the kind of follower - uh - leader that I want for this country.
Yet, it is Jerusalem, ancient and historic capital of Israel that now allows anyone with peaceful intent to come and worship any way they please.
Now, that is.
Prior to the 1967 six-day war, when Jordan (actual home of Palestinian people) held Jerusalem, Jews were kept out, as well as others that Hashemite Kingdom disliked.
Christians and Muslims have slugged it out repeatedly over the centuries to see who could 'own the Holy Land'.
If the radical Arab Muslims had their way, there'd be no Jews anywhere.