Obama's platform missing reference to 'united Jerusalem'
Democratic Party convenes to ratify official elections' platform, which conspicuously lacks statement supporting status of Israel's capital
WASHINGTON – The presidential elections' platform presented to the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina Tuesday was missing a key reference – the United States' commitment to Jerusalem's status as Israel's capital.
Back in 2008, the DNC platform included the following: "All understand that it is unrealistic to expect the outcome of final status negotiations (between Israel and the Palestinians) to be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949.
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"Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."
While addressing the US' commitments to provide defense aid to Israel, as well as its commitment to dealing with the Iranian threat, the platform submitted in 2012 was devoid this reassurance.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney slammed Obama over his "shameful refusal" to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and blamed him for once more alienating Washington's key ally in the Middle East.
Obama at the Western Wall (Photo: AP)
"It is unfortunate that the entire Democratic Party has embraced President Obama’s shameful refusal to acknowledge that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital... Four years of President Obama’s repeated attempts to create distance between the United States and our cherished ally have led the Democratic Party to remove from their platform an unequivocal acknowledgment of a simple reality," Romney said.
"As president, I will restore our relationship with Israel and stand shoulder to shoulder with our close ally," he pledged in a statement.
The GOC's platform stresses the need for a two-state solution that will keep Jerusalem united as Israel's capital city.
A spokesperson for the Democratic Party said that the Obama administration adheres to the same policies as its predecessors have since 1967 when in comes to Jerusalem.
But the party failed to explain the change in its platform.
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