Romney Campaign Press Release - The Obama Team Ducks On Jerusalem Again

"The Obama team refuses to take a stand on whether Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. After initially claiming in 2008 that Jerusalem should remain the capital, President Obama and his advisers have shamefully ducked and dodged on the President's position. As president, Mitt Romney would ensure Israel has a steadfast ally in the United States, including support for its capital, Jerusalem." — Ryan Williams, Romney Campaign Spokesman

The Obama White House Repeatedly Refused To Say Whether Jerusalem Is The Capital Of Israel:

Last Week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney Repeatedly Refused To Answer Questions On The Administration's Position On The Capital Of Israel. QUESTION: "What city does this administration consider to be the capital of Israel -- Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?" CARNEY: "I haven't had that question in a while. Our position has not changed, Connie." QUESTION: "What is the position? What's the capital?" CARNEY: "You know our position." QUESTION: "I don't." QUESTION: "No, no, she doesn't know. She doesn't know. That's why she asked." CARNEY: "She does know" QUESTION: "I don't." QUESTION: "She does not know. She just said she doesn't know. I don't know." (White House Press Briefing, 7/26/12)

When Pressed Later In The Briefing, Carney Again Ducked The Questions On Israel's Capital. QUESTION: "Tel Aviv or Jerusalem?" CARNEY: "You know the answer. Yes." QUESTION: "No, I don't know the answer. We don't know the answer. Could you just give us an answer? What do you recognize -- what does" CARNEY: "Our position hasn't changed, Lester." (White House Press Briefing, 7/26/12)

But During His 2008 Campaign, Candidate Obama Claimed Jerusalem Was The Capital Of Israel:

Candidate Obama, In 2008: "Israel I Think Has A Historic Claim On Jerusalem." OBAMA: "Israel I think has a historic claim on Jerusalem. I think that obviously there are sacred sites in the Old City that are central to not just Judaism but also to Islam and Christianity. I think it is very important for us to find a way in which all those claims are respected. This is something that I think is very important for the parties themselves to decide, but I believe that it is not an acceptable option for Jerusalem to be severed from Israel along the lines of the 1967 borders. That is not going to be an option." (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks In A Q&A Session, Philadelphia, PA, 4/16/08)

Candidate Obama, In 2008: "Jerusalem Will Remain The Capital Of Israel, And It Must Remain Undivided." (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At AIPAC, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)

One Day After The AIPAC Conference, Candidate Obama Backtracked, Saying The Future Of Jerusalem Would Have To Be Negotiated By Israel And The Palestinians. CNN'S CANDY CROWLEY: "I want to ask you about something you said in AIPAC yesterday. You said that Jerusalem must remain undivided. Do Palestinians have no claim to Jerusalem in the future?" OBAMA: "Well, obviously, it's going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 6/5/08)

And While In The Senate, Joe Biden Co-Sponsored And Voted For The Jerusalem Embassy Act:

In 1995, Senator Joe Biden Co-Sponsored And Voted For The Jerusalem Embassy Act — Which Declared Jerusalem As The Capital Of Israel. (S. 1322, Vote #496: Passed 93-5, 10/24/95, Biden Voted Yea)

President Obama Has Visited Dozens Of Countries While In Office — But Has Not Made A Single Trip To Israel:

President Obama Has Not Visited Israel Since Taking Office. "Obama visited Israel in 2008 while he was a presidential candidate but has not been back since. He has been to 30 countries, so far, as commander-in-chief, including Ghana, Ireland and El Salvador." (Cameron Joseph, "GOP: Romney Can Shame Obama, Boost Foreign Policy Credentials With Israel Trip," The Hill, 5/14/12)

Governor Romney Is Firmly Committed To Jerusalem As The Capital Of Israel:

Governor Romney, On July 29: "It Is A Deeply Moving Experience To Be In Jerusalem, The Capital Of Israel." (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks, Jerusalem, Israel, 7/29/12)

Governor Romney Has Also Said "A Nation Has The Capacity To Choose Its Own Capital City, And Jerusalem Is Israel's Capital." "'A nation has the capacity to choose its own capital city, and Jerusalem is Israel's capital,' Romney told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview set to air Monday. 'I think it's long been the policy to ultimately have our embassy in the nation's capital of Jerusalem.'" (Kevin Liptak, "Romney Says Jerusalem Is Israel's Capital, Vows To Move Embassy," CNN, 7/29/12)