PRINCETON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (JTA) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Jerusalem should remain under Israeli control.
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday following his first trip to Israel earlier this month, Christie, who has been mentioned by Republicans as a possible vice presidential pick, said his tour of the Old City of Jerusalem "further reinforced my view that Jerusalem has to stay under Israeli control."
Tthe most “eye-opening” part of his trip, he told reporters, was a helicopter tour over part of the West Bank with Israeli military officials. Then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush expressed a similar sentiment after taking a similar helicopter tour in 1998 with then-Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon.
"Even though you see it on a map you don’t appreciate it until you’re there," Christie said. “Everyone who thinks they have an opinion that’s worth something on the Palestinian issue should take that tour,” Christie added. The helicopter ride took “three minutes from West Bank settlements to the Mediterranean. A missle goes much faster than a helicopter.”
Christie billed the trip, called “Jersey to Jerusalem,” as an “economic growth, diplomacy [and] observance” mission. Christie met with leaders of several Israeli companies, including Teva Pharmaceuticals and Project Better Place — the electric car startup — but the trip also focused on Israeli defense and policy.
The first-term governor added that he hoped to “expand my portfolio” as an up-and-coming national voice of the Republican Party. Last year, several Republican leaders urged Christie to run for president, but Christie demurred, and he has said he does not intend to seek national office during this gubernatorial term.
During the April 1-5 trip, Christie met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed Israel’s security concerns and Iran’s suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
"The prime minister is an articulate spokesman and advocate for how peace negotiations should be conducted," Christie said.
Christie called his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, 89, like “walking into a history book.”
The N.J. governor did not meet with any leaders of the Palestinian Authority during the trip. After Israel, the Christie family spent a weekend with King Abdullah of Jordan. Christie also met Abdullah at a conference in Iowa in 2010.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that Gov. Christie cautioned against Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Golan Heights.
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