Newt Gingrich: Palestinians an “Invented” People

Are the Republican candidate debates performance art?

Popular Republican presidential candidate New Gingrich made quite a splash this weekend in televised interviews and at Saturday’s Republican leadership candidates' debate. The former speaker of the House of Representatives called Palestinians an “invented” people composed of “terrorists,” and later defended his statement in the debate as "historically true." Romney responded that such statements would impede America’s ability to foster peace in the Middle East. Suffice it to say Palestinian leadership was also miffed by the comment, with several officials calling it “fodder” for extremists and Prime minister Salam Fayyad adding that it was ridiculous and racist. Even Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has recognized the Palestinian people.