GOP hopefuls rip Obama on Israel

Copious criticism draws applause from Jewish activists, donors.

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopefuls took turns lambasting President Barack Obama's policy toward Israel on Wednesday, accusing him of being timid in the face of Iran's attempt to build nuclear weapons and allowing a dangerous distance to develop between the U.S. and its longtime ally in the Middle East.

“This president, for every thug and hooligan, for every radical Islamist, he has had nothing but appeasement,” former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania told the Republican Jewish Coalition — in one of the harshest criticisms on a day filled with them.

In speeches that resembled political auditions before the Jewish activists and donors, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Michele Bachmann promised to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and Gov. Rick Perry pledged he would increase military aid to Israel.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a co-front-runner in the polls with Gingrich, said the president, by his actions, has “emboldened Palestinian hard-liners who now are poised to form a unity government with terrorist Hamas and feel they can bypass Israel at the bargaining table.”

All the Republicans stressed that Iran must never be permitted to gain a nuclear weapon, raising the possibility of a pre-emptive military strike to prevent it.

Any criticism of Obama drew applause from the audience, and the White House and its allies were quick to counter the allegations.

“Because they know they can't attract Jewish voters with their domestic policy, Republicans turn to Israel and attempt to make the Jewish state a partisan issue,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat who is chair of the Democratic National Committee.

She said Obama has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel, and during his presidency, U.S. military assistance has reached unprecedented levels.

Mindful of the political stakes, the White House has arranged briefings and a Hanukkah party at the White House for Jewish leaders today. Obama is expected to speak next week to a conference of the Union for Reform Judaism.