US Jewish group calls for Romney apology to Palestinians

Ma'anNews:  BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Jewish Voice for Peace launched an open letter campaign earlier this week to force US presidential candidate Mitt Romney to apologize to the Palestinian people for remarks he made while on tour in the region.

On Monday, JVP representatives delivered over 17,000 signatures to Romney's Boston, Massachusetts office.

JVP was hoping to get 20,000 signatures on their open letter calling for Romney to apologize to the Palestinian people.

"Your statements in Jerusalem regarding the growth of the Palestinian and Israeli economies were inaccurate and misleading," the letter reads.

"Israel's Occupation of Palestinian land makes it impossible for the Palestinian economy to succeed, not 'cultural differences'".

During the Republican candidates' trip to Israel, Romney said cultural differences were the reason behind the discrepancy between the Israeli and Palestinian economies, while also quoting inaccurate date on GDP.

Palestinian officials had also accused Romney of undermining peace prospects by calling Jerusalem "the capital of Israel", ignoring their own claims to the city and most world opinion.

"What this man is doing here is just promoting extremism, violence and hatred, and this is absolutely unacceptable," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Reuters.

"Your comments were not a reflection of the values Jews, Americans, and our allies hold dear," JVP's open letter says.

"We call on you to apologize to the Palestinian people for your willful lack of understanding of the facts on the ground and the racist assumptions behind them."

JVP is a human rights group based in the United states.