Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney continued a foreign trip over the weekend with a visit to Israel. Romney’s campaign drew headlines after a top aide initially announced on Sunday that Romney would announce his support for a “pre-emptive” Israeli military attack on Iran should Israel deem it necessary to stop Iran’s alleged nuclear activities. But after taking the stage for a speech Sunday night, Romney backed off from the stance, stopping short of backing a unilateral strike. Instead, Romney echoed President Obama’s long-stated position to leave all options on the table.

Mitt Romney: “We should employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course, and it is our fervent hope that diplomatic and economic measures will do so. In the final analysis, of course, no option should be excluded. We recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and that it is right for America to stand with you.”