TAMPA, Fla. (JTA) — The Republican Jewish Coalition heralded the Republican Party platform’s Israel planks and endorsement of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The 2012 Republican platform is a forward-looking document that celebrates American exceptionalism and focuses on the most pressing issues facing our nation: rebuilding our economic strength, providing for a strong national defense, and demonstrating leadership in the international community,” the RJC said in a statement posted on the Republican National Convention website.
“The Republican Party remains unwavering in its commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and its rejection of pressuring Israel to negotiate with those intent on her destruction,” it said.
The RJC also highlights the platform’s endorsement of separate states for the Israelis and Palestinians.
“We support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state with secure, defensible borders; and we envision two democratic states — Israel with Jerusalem as its capital and Palestine — living in peace and security,” says the excerpt from the platform.
Parts of the platform excerpted in the RJC statement addressed what Republicans say is President Obama’s failure to provide American leadership in the international community, but other passages use language similar to that used by the Obama administration.
The Iran passage excerpted by the RJC from the platform said “all options” should be considered in dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat, a cautious reference to a military option and one that echoes Obama’s approach.
