It is a racist statement and this man doesn’t realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation… It seems to me this man lacks information, knowledge, vision and understanding of this region and its people.
— Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, responding to comments made by Mitt Romney in a speech in Jerusalem. Romney told a group of conservative Israelis that “cultural differences” are the reason that Palestine is poorer than Israel.