Gingrich under fire for 'invented' Palestinians jab

[ Channel News Asia ] 11 Dec

Leading Republican White House contender Newt Gingrich has sparked outrage by saying the Palestinians are an "invented" people, which seemed to call into question long-held US policy on statehood.

In a sign he could abandon the US position on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, Gingrich said the Jewish people had the right to a state, but did not confirm if Palestinians should have the same privilege.

Gingrich told The Jewish Channel in an interview released on Friday:

"Remember there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. We've had an invented Palestinian people, who are in fact Arabs, and were historically part of the Arab community."

Posted in: 2012, Palestine, US Elections