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Christie Apologizes to Adelson for “Occupied Territories” Remark at Republican Jewish Coalition

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at the Republican Jewish Coalition
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at the Republican Jewish Coalition
An audience that included Sheldon Adelson,  a major political donor and confidante of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was aghast at the reference “occupied territories” used by a usually charismatic Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.

The gaffe occurred when the governor described a helicopter ride he took in a 2012 trip to Israel. In an effort to display empathy and understanding regarding the military plight Israel faces every day, Christie used the terminology “occupied territories” to describe what he flew over.

This did not sit well with Zionist Organization of America chief Morton Klein. Mr. Klein, an Adelson ally, confronted the governor after the speech and introduced a more appropriate classification “At a minimum you should call it disputed territories”. Klein was unsure if Christie would make the change in his future speeches. He wound up feeling the governor doesn’t understand the issue at all or is hostile towards Israel.

Christie met privately with Adelson and offered an explanation and an apology, which was accepted.

Despite the recent controversy that has swirled around Christie because of the George Washington Bridge scandal, he is believed to still be the Republican front runner for a 2016 run for the White House. Matt Brooks of the RJC went on to state that Christie’s “remarks today were not meant to be a statement of policy”

Despite the flub, Christie received multiple standing ovations from a room of about 400. He went to say that Israel will know we are with them and he criticized the Obama administration’s foreign policy.

“We cannot have a world where our friends are unsure if we will be with them and our enemies unsure if we will be against them.” Christie said. “In New Jersey no one has to wonder if I am for them or against them. There is never really a cloud of indecision as to what I say or do.”

Top GOP bundler Lew Eisenberg told Politico that Christie proved “he understands the importance of Israel and the interdependency of the United States and Israel.”

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