Romney vows to do ‘opposite’ of Obama on Israel

WEATHERLY, Pa.— Mitt Romney is telling evangelical Christians that he’ll do “the opposite” of what President Obama has done in dealing with Israel.

Romney on Saturday told the Faith and Freedom Coalition he believes the president is more concerned about Israel attacking Iran than he is about Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. His hawkish speech was the first time he’s discussed policy toward Israel at length since becoming the likely Republican presidential nominee.

“I think, by and large, you can just look at the things the president has done and do the opposite,” he told the crowd, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He added that he would take “take any and all action” to keep Iran from going nuclear and said he would not let the world see any gaps in understanding between the US and Israel.

“If we have disagreements, you know, we can talk about them behind closed doors. But to the world, you show that we’re locked arm-in-arm,” he said.

His remarks drew raucous applause from the gathered group.

Obama’s campaign accused Romney of distorting the president’s record on Israel. Spokesman Ben LaBolt says Obama has given Israel more security assistance than any other administration and has stood with Israel at the United Nations.

Romney addressed the group via video uplink from outside his campaign bus as he campaigned in Pennsylvania.