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<\/a><\/p>\nBy Ben Feuerherd
\nNew York Post<\/p>\n
Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O\u2019Rourke called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu \u201cracist\u201d while speaking about the US-Israel relationship at a campaign event in Iowa on Sunday.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Rourke, a former congressman from Texas, added that he does not believe Netanyahu \u201crepresents the true will of the Israeli people\u201d in his remarks in Iowa City.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe US-Israel relationship is one of the most important relationships that we have on the planet, and that relationship, if it is successful, must transcend partisanship in the United States, and it must be able to transcend a prime minister who is racist, as he warns against Arabs coming to the polls,\u201d O\u2019Rourke said.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Rourke made the comment to reporters after his rally, where one of the attendees asked him about conflict between Israel and Arab nations.<\/p>\n
He went on to endorse a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, saying it\u2019s the best option for a lasting peace in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must be able to transcend his current leadership to make sure that that alliance is strong, that we continue to push for and settle for nothing less than a two-state solution, because that is the best opportunity for peace for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine,\u201d O\u2019Rourke said, according to a CNN report on his statement.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Rourke\u2019s statement comes two days before a Prime Minister election in Israel. Netanyahu, who is seeking re-election, has vowed to\u00a0annex Israeli settlements in the West Bank if he is re-elected<\/a>.<\/p>\n Netanyahu has also allied himself closely with President Trump and conservative politicians in his country.<\/p>\n