Palestinians give cool reception to US debate

JERUSLAEM – The Palestinians are giving a cool reception to both U.S. presidential candidates after their foreign policy debate.

Neither President Barack Obama nor Republican challenger Mitt Romney spoke much about the Israel-Palestinian conflict during Monday night's debate. Both men, however, took great efforts to voice support for Israel's security, in an apparent gesture to influential Jewish voters.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Tuesday that he understands that candidates are wary about discussing the sensitive conflict during an election season. But he says "it should be clear" that without resolution, "there will be no success for American policy in the Middle East."

The Palestinians have grown disillusioned with Obama and are wary of Romney, who said this year that the Palestinians have "no interest whatsoever" in peace.