Newt Gingrich attempted to clarified just how strong his support is for Israel by calling Palestinians an “invented” people. Asked during an interview with The Jewish Channel whether he considers himself a Zionist, the former House Speaker and presidential hopeful replied, “I believe that the Jewish people have a right to have a state. And I believe the commitments that were made at the time—remember there was no Palestinian state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. And I think we’ve had an invented Palestinian people, who are in fact Arabs, and were historically part of the Arab community.” He also promised that a Gingrich administration would bring “a much more tougher-minded and more honest approach to the Middle East.”
