No Israel question during GOP presidential debate

Israel was nowhere to be found as a topic during the first Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire.

Presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Ron Paul discussed the economy, health care, social issues and other topics during Monday night’s two-hour debate at St. Anselm College, but a question on the candidates’ stance on Israel was conspicuously absent.

The only explicit mention of the Jewish state came in passing, during one of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum’s answers when he charged President Obama has “turned his back” on America’s allies, including Israel.