Giuliani: Palestinian state would endanger US

Leading Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has declared he is against the creation of a Palestinian state at present because he says it would "support terrorism" and endanger US security. He underscored his uncompromising approach to foreign policy by adding he would be prepared to destroy Iran's nuclear plants "should all else fail." In an interview with Foreign Affairs magazine, Giuliani said "too much emphasis" had been placed on promoting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. President Bush has said he supports a two-state solution and leaders of Israel and the Palestinians met last week to discuss "fundamental issues" ahead of the creation of a Palestinian state. However, the former New York mayor said: "It is not in the interest of the United States, at a time when it is being threatened by Islamist terrorists, to assist the creation of another state that will support terrorism. "Palestinian statehood will have to be earned through sustained good governance, a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and a willingness to live in peace with Israel." He added: "America's commitment to Israel's security is a permanent feature of our foreign policy." Giuliani said that while he would not rule out negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program -- which Tehran maintains is solely for energy needs -- such negotiations should proceed from "a position of strength." "The theocrats ruling Iran need to understand that we can wield the stick as well as the carrot, by undermining popular support for their regime, damaging the Iranian economy, weakening Iran's military and, should all else fail, destroying its nuclear infrastructure," he warned. As mayor of New York, which has a large Jewish community, Giuliani repeatedly spoke out against the creation of a Palestinian state and was a staunch critic of the late Palestinian leader, Yassir Arafat. In 1995 he barred Arafat from city-sponsored events held to celebrate the United Nations' 50th anniversary. He even ordered Arafat be removed when he appeared at a Lincoln Center concert. Giuliani is one of the frontrunners -- along with Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson -- to secure the Republican nomination to fight the 2008 presidential election. Giuliani: ID for all tourists Every foreigner in the United States would be required to carry an ID card bearing photograph and fingerprints under plans drawn up by Rudolph Giuliani, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Giuliani announced last week that all foreigners would be obliged to carry a "tamper-proof" biometric card, which could be issued at ports of entry. "If you don't have that card, you get thrown out of the country," Giuliani said. He intends to call it a SAFE card (for secure authorized foreign entry). "The question is: in what circumstances will people be asked for their IDs?" said Jay Stanley, a privacy expert at the American Civil Liberties Union. "Will dark-skinned foreigners be asked for their IDs while a Caucasian person isn't?" Opponents also believe it could be costly, cumbersome and could affect trade and tourism. Giuliani said: "I did it back in 1994 with welfare people. It was a big, big, horrible thing that I was doing. I was asking welfare people to be biometrically identified by their fingerprints. "It worked. It got rid of the duplicates and triplicates, people who were getting welfare at three different places." (Times (UK))