Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz sharply challenged the Republican field, including Mitt Romney, for pledging to zero out the foreign aid budget, including resources the U.S. provides to Israel.

?I?m aghast that the leading Republican contenders for President tonight, including Mitt Romney, pledged to zero out the foreign aid budget including the traditional and vital support the U.S. has provided the Jewish state of Israel for its security,? she said. ?I cannot think of a more irresponsible, risky or deplorable position towards our most important friend and ally.?

The Florida congresswoman called it a ?moral and security imperative? for the U.S. to stand by Israel, especially with the threat posed by Iran.

?Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican field clearly do not understand the vital need for the U.S. to consistently stand by our friend and ally, Israel and not only when it?s politically popular,? she said.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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