It was reported that Mitt Romney offended Palestinians when he made yet another
"Anglo-Saxon values" type of speech in Israel. Stating:
As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,"...
"And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things," Romney said, citing an innovative business climate, the Jewish history of thriving in difficult circumstances and the "hand of providence."
Ahh the "hand of providence" otherwise known as The White Man's Burden. Not that I expect much different from a Republican, but that isn't really a story. Why? Because
it is actually the opinion of those in power in Israel.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Israeli daily Maariv published an interview with Interior Minister Eli Yishai, in which he stated that most of the "Muslims that arrive here do not even believe that this country belongs to us, to the white man."
So if this is the actual opinion of those in Israel and it is on the record then what has Saeb Erekat Been reading that had him make the following statement:
"It seems to me this man lacks information, knowledge, vision and understanding of this region and its people," Erekat added. "He also lacks knowledge about the Israelis themselves. I have not heard any Israeli official speak about cultural superiority."
There are a couple of possibilities. Number one is that he simply does not know of the statement. If he doesn't I would find that pretty shocking. It's not every day that government ministers go on record with some White Man's burden commentary.
Surely those in charge of intelligence gathering in Palestine keep an eye out for such statements.
The second possibility is that Saeb Erekat may consider himself "white". In which case he identifies the same way as the Israeli's as it pertains to the African migrants, the presence of whom was the subject of the linked quote. It would explain why he apparently missed the not too long ago statement made by an Israeli government minister.
