(CNN) -- As Republican presidential candidates move closer to the key tests for their party's nomination, the highly charged topic of Israel and its conflict with Palestinians has come up with increasing frequency in speeches and debates. Most recently, Newt Gingrich sent a jolt through the discussion with his description of Palestinians as "an invented" people. His rivals, without disagreeing, accused Gingrich of speaking irresponsibly and potentially hurting Israel. Most people in the U.S. and around the world interpret the campaign pledges of love and support for Israel as an effort to win the Jewish vote. But the Jewish vote has little to do with it.
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Frida Ghitis says GOP candidates avow support for Israel more and more frequently
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She says they are not courting small Jewish vote as much as large pro-Israel vote
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She says if candidates really want to help Israel, they should back off inflammatory remarks
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Ghitis: Most Israelis back two-state solution; Gingrich's Palestinian comment hurts
The number of @placeholder-American voters barely registers when compared with the size of the pro-Israel vote.