Romney says aid to Palestinians should be threatened

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney this morning criticized President Obama for being unable to stem off a Palestinian bid for recognition before the United Nations, saying the president should threaten to withhold foreign aid and reconsider funding of UN programs if the Palestinian bid is successful.

“What we are watching unfold at the United Nations is an unmitigated diplomatic disaster,” the former Massachusetts governor said in a statement. “It is the culmination of President Obama’s repeated efforts over three years to throw Israel under the bus and undermine its negotiating position. That policy must stop now.”

Romney called on Obama to deliver a hardened address in his speech to the United Nations this week, saying the president should threaten to withhold foreign assistance money if the Palestinian Authority “succeeds in gaining any type of UN recognition.”

Romney also says the United States should reevaluate its funding of UN programs, as well as its relationship with any nation that votes in favor of recognition.

“Actions that compromise the interests of the United States, our allies, and all those who desire a lasting peace must have consequences,” Romney said.

Romney’s statement comes on a morning when Texas Governor Rick Perry, his chief rival for the GOP presidential nomination, is in New York for a speech on the topic.

He was taking a similar approach to Romney.

“We are indignant that certain Middle Eastern leaders have discarded the principle of direct negotiations between the sovereign nation of Israel and the Palestinian leadership,” Perry said in excerpts of a speech provided to The Associated Press. “And we are equally indignant that the Obama administration’s Middle East policy of appeasement has encouraged such an ominous act of bad faith.”

The Palestinian Authority is pushing for recognition of statehood this week at the United Nations. The US has vowed to veto any such bid in the body’s Security Council, but the Palestinians could still push for more limited recognition before the General Assembly.

Obama is also in New York today, and plans to meet later in the week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.