US: Republican candidates assail Obama on Israel

In a 10-minute speech in New York, Republican presidential front-runner Rick Perry pledged strong support for Israel and criticized President Barack Obama for demanding concessions from the Jewish state that Perry says emboldened the Palestinians to seek recognition by the UN.

"We would not be here today at this very precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naive and arrogant, misguided and dangerous," Perry said. Earlier, Republican rival Mitt Romney accused Obama's administration of "repeated efforts over three years to throw Israel under the bus and undermine its negotiating position." (AP)