Gingrich Vows To Move US Embassy To Jerusalem At GOP Fundraiser
BEVERLY HILLS (CBS) — Nearly one week after his presidential campaign underwent a near-mutiny in a exodus of most of his top staff, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich went on the attack against the current administration.
Gingrich used a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday to criticize President Barack Obama's Middle East policies, accusing him of accommodating dictators and terrorist groups.
And as KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports, Gingrich also vowed to make good on a U.S. promise delayed by several former presidents and President Obama.
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The ultra-conservative Republican candidate vowed to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem if he becomes president.
Gingrich told the Republican Jewish Coalition that "the greatest obstacle toward achieving a real and lasting peace..." is "an inability on the part of the Obama Administration and certain world leaders to tell the truth about terrorism, be honest about the publicly stated goals of our common enemies and devise policies appropriate to an honest accounting of reality."
He used the public forum to speak candidly about the recent setbacks his campaign has suffered, and reassured the audience he's seen it all before.
"I know full well the rigors of campaigning for public office," said Gingrich. "In fact, I've had some recent reminders."
Neither the White House nor Obama's re-election campaign immediately reacted to the speech, the first Gingrich has delivered 's first since the mass resignation of his campaign's senior staff on Thursday.
In his speech, Gingrich also unveiled a nine-point plan on the Middle East. It includes suspending all funding to the United Nations if the General Assembly moves to recognize a Palestinian state before an Israeli-Palestinian accord.
Gingrich left immediately after the speech, bound for New Hampshire, where he will participate in a debate Monday with other Republican presidential hopefuls.
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