Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that despite different historical theories about Palestinians, they "are a people today" and need to be treated as such to solve enduring conflicts.
"To me the important fact is that the Palestinians are a people today and any resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has to be between two peoples, two nations, " said Lieberman at a breakfast sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor Tuesday.
Earlier this week, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich ignited a firestorm when he called the Palestinians “an invented people.”
"Bottom line I'd say, whatever one's view of history, the Palestinian peoplehood is a reality today and we have to respect and deal with that reality as we try to resolve a conflict between two peoples," Lieberman said.
Gingrich stood by his controversial remarks. At the GOP presidential debate on Saturday night Gingrich doubled down on his position by continuously blasting the Palestinians as “terrorists.”
“Is what I said factually correct? Yes. Is it historically true? Yes,” Gingrich said. “We are in a situation where every day rockets are fired into Israel while the United States — the current administration — tries to pressure the Israelis into a peace process.”
—Jonathan Easley contributed.
