Rubio charges at Trump: 'The Palestinians are not a real estate deal'
In final Republican debate before Super Tuesday, the three leading GOP candidates - Trump, Rubio, and Cruz - square off on a variety of issues, including their stances on the Jewish state.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was put in the spotlight during a debate between the five remaining candidates in the race to become the Republican Party's nominee for president, only days before the US primaries reach their climax on Super Tuesday, March 1.
"The Palestinians are not a real estate deal, Donald," Marco Rubio told frontrunner Donald Trump, with Trump responding that "a deal is a deal."
During the CNN debate in Houston, TX, Rubio tried everything in order to convince the Republican voters that Trump will not lead Conservative agenda on issues of justice, health, immigration, and religious freedom, nor on Israel. He attacked Trump like never before, and a large part of his verbal attacks were on the subject of Israel.
Trump was asked how he could stay neutral if the US views Israel as its closest ally in the Middle East.
"Well, first of all I don’t think they do under President Obama, because I think he has treated Israel horribly ... I have very close ties to Israel. I’ve received the Tree of Life Award and many of the greatest awards given by Israel. As president, however, there’s nothing that I would rather do (than) bring peace to Israel and its neighbors," Trump said.
The New York billionaire added, "I may not be successful in doing it. It’s probably the toughest negotiation of anywhere in the world, of any kind, OK? But, it doesn’t help if I start saying I’m very pro-Israel, very pro-Israel, more than anybody on this stage. But it doesn’t do any good to start demeaning the neighbors."
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who had the home field advantage, was quick to respond: "This is another area on which Donald agrees with Hillary Clinton. And on which I disagree with them both strongly. Both Donald and Hillary Clinton want to be 'neutral,' to use Donald's word, between Israel and the Palestinians. Let me be clear, if I'm president, America will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel."
This led to an exchanging of barbs between Rubio and Trump.
Trump charged that he was a negotiator, adding, "And in all fairness, Marco is not a negotiator."
Rubio responded by accusing Trump of thinking that negotiating with the Palestinians was the same as reaching a real-estate deal.
"These people may even be tougher than Chris Christie," Trump taunted, arguing that "A deal is a deal."
"A deal is not a deal when you're dealing with terrorists. Have you ever negotiated with terrorists?" Rubio hit back.
To this Trump retorted that "You are not a negotiator. And with your thinking you will never bring peace."
"Donald might be able to build condos in the Palestinian areas, but ... this is not a real estate deal," Rubio responded.
While Trump also said that even though he is "very pro-Israel," he believed that "it serves no purpose to say you have a good guy and a bad guy."
According to the latest polls, Trump has a substantial lead in the Super Tuesday states, except for Texas, which is leaning towards Cruz, one of the state's senators. Another sweeping victory like in Nevada will give Trump a substantial lead in the race.
