In interview with Iranian TV 3 years ago, Republican candidate condemns Israel's conduct in Gaza and US-Israel "special relationship,"
By JPOST.COM STAFFRepublican presidential candidate Ron Paul 311(photo credit: REUTERS/Jeff Haynes )
Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul condemned Operation Cast Lead as an "atrocious massacre," when speaking with Iranian Television in 2009.Criticizing then-US president George W. Bush, Paul said, "but I think we encourage it. Certainly the president did nothing to diminish it.""He justifies it on moral grounds... says they have a right to it without ever mentioning the tragedy of Gaza, and the real problems there," he said."To me I look at it like a concentration camp.. people are making home-made bombs. Like they're the agressors?" Paul asked rhetorically.In further criticism of both Israel's conduct and US policy he stated that Israel didn't have the motivation to resolve the conflict "because they know we'll back them up," he continued. "They know we'll do whatever is necessary to bail then out."RELATED:Rand Paul: My father is misunderstood on IsraelAnalysis: Ron Paul leaves a big impactPaul concluded that the US would be much better off ending its special relationship with Israel, which he said "has increased anti-US sentiment around the world."Commenting further on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict he stated that "neither side is ready to talk.""If Israel has a problem, they have to deal with it. I don't think it should be any of our business. If I personally favor one side or the other, it's academic. Because politically I don't want to do be involved. I want to say... well, I think the Palestinians have been ripped off... and therefore all the blame is on Israel. I can have a personal opinion, but politically my position is that America would be much better off if we just minded our own business," he asserted.
