Romney declares support for Israel during campaign speech

Mitt Romney declared Sunday that the U.S. should support Israel if it decides to take an armed stance against Iran's nuclear weapons program, said the Los Angeles Times.

The Republican presidential candidate spoke to 150 carefully selected guests in Jerusalem Tuesday, among whom were Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jewish-American millionaires and potential campaign donors, said Haaretz.

Romney stated that the U.S. has a "solemn duty and a moral imperative to deny Iran's leaders the means to follow through on their malevolent intentions" and declared his full support of Israel, said the Los Angeles Times.

In an unusual move, Netanyahu invited Romney and his family to dinner at his private residence, suggesting that the two have a closer relationship than normal for a candidate, said Haaretz.