MANCHESTER, N.H. — Ohio Gov. John Kasich told a New Hampshire business forum that he does not believe a lasting peace is possible between Palestinians and Israelis.
“You will never have a permanent peace and people who search for a permanent peace are searching for something that doesn’t exist,” said Kasich, who is seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
Speaking before a Manchester business forum, Kasich said the focus should instead be on stability rather than any efforts for lasting peace.
“What you want to search for is stability,” added Kasich. “Everyday that you go by without there being major problems is a win.”
The Ohio governor blasted the Obama administration’s seemingly tenuous relations with Israel and frosty relationship the president has had with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He further cautioned the United States against pressuring Israel. “We are not going to bully them, that’s their survival,” stated Kasich.
Kasich sounded an optimistic tune on global affairs telling the gathering global terror threats present an opportunity for the world to be united. While stressing what he called the need to pull countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to the West, he also said the United States should stay out of conflicts between Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Vying for second place behind Donald Trump, Kasich defended his role in the 1991 closure of Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, N.H. Despite criticism from Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Kasich pointed to the nearly 10,000 jobs that were created when the base became an international trade port.
As his critics continue to paint him as a liberal, citing his recent endorsement from the New York Times, Kasich is using the endorsement to his advantage noting the paper said he is “no moderate.”
“If the definition of conservatism is we cut spending and we cut taxes and that’s the end of it, then party’s philosophy needs reform,” said Kasich.
Calling his philosophy, “conservative opportunism,” Kasich said he wanted to promote ideas that provide opportunities for all people while stressing the need to help the mentally ill and rehab drug addicts.
Kasich currently ranks fourth in the Washington Examiner power rankings and trails well behind the GOP field nationally, but is quickly racking up influential endorsements from several New England news papers.
