(Mary Altaffer/AP)Texas Gov. Rick Perry trashed President Obama's handling of Middle East policy Tuesday, suggesting the Obama administration is to blame for a standoff at the United Nations this week over the Palestinian Authority's bid to seek formal statehood.
"Simply put, we would not be here today at this very precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naive and arrogant, misguided and dangerous," Perry declared in a speech at a New York hotel, where he was flanked by Jewish leaders.
Perry trashed Obama's "appeasement" toward the Palestinians, saying it had put Israel "in a position of weakness" and strengthened their enemies. He also slammed Obama's larger approach to the Middle East, suggesting his policies had "destabilized" the region and "sowed instability that threatens the prospects of peace."
"Our muddle of a foreign policy has created greater uncertainty in the midst of the 'Arab Spring.' And our policy of isolating and undermining Israel has only encouraged our adversaries in their aggression." Perry said.
The 2012 presidential hopeful's remarks come as the UN Security Council prepares to take up the Palestinians' request to be formally recognized as a state. It's move that would essentially bypass negotiations with Israel over a two-state solution, which Perry said he supports but only with Israel's input.
But his speech, which attracted dozens of reporters, also comes as Perry aims to boost his foreign policy credentials among GOP primary voters. By wading into one of the most contentious foreign policy disputes in recent decades, the governor attempted to cast himself as the firm leader that the debate is currently lacking and to bolster his profile among Jewish voters, a key bloc of support that has become disenchanted with Obama.
At one point, Perry offered a direct message to citizens of Israel. "Help is on the way," he said, a remark that elicited enthusiastic applause among the dozens of Jewish leaders on hand for the speech.
The governor said he was viewing the issue both as a political leader and "as a Christian."
Sitting atop most early 2012 primary polls, Perry's strategy seemed aimed at overlooking his GOP rivals and directly taking on Obama on what is essentially his turf this week. As Perry spoke this morning, Obama was about 30 blocks away, where he has been meeting with foreign allies and other top UN officials lobbying them to block the Palestinians' request.
But Perry insisted the White House should be using tougher bargaining chips in its lobbying efforts. Among other things, he suggested the U.S. should threaten to pull funding from the Palestinians and the UN, if the state is approved.
