The statement of U.S. republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made during his visit in Israel this week has largely enraged the Palestinians.

Romney, a major competitor to U.S. President Barack Obama in the presidential elections due to be held in November, tried to show his largest support to Israel during his three-day visit and said "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel."

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad held a meeting with Romney in Jerusalem right after his hard statement, during which Fayyad expressed the Palestinians' anger and disappointment to Romney's statement.

An official Palestinian source in Ramallah told Xinhua that the meeting was to convey a Palestinian message that "Romney's statement on Jerusalem is condemned."

Fayyad stressed to Romney that "east Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, is the capital of the future Palestinian state, in accordance to the international resolutions and the two-state principle that was accepted by the United States and the international community," said the source.

Fayyad also urged Romney to express regret about his statements, which "harm the comprehensive peace in the region."

Meanwhile, the White House urged Romney to make a clarification to his statements. A White House spokesman said that controversial statements of Romney about the Palestinians have caused confusion and Romney has to give more clarifications.

Romney on Monday night provoked the Palestinians again when he compared the economic growth in Israel with the Palestinian National Authority, saying the reason behind the big difference " is related to culture."

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the claim, noting "these statements reflect racism and show his ignorance of the facts on the ground. He knows nothing about the region, the history and the culture of the region which our people are part of, " he said in a press release sent to Xinhua.

In addition to his statements against the Palestinians, Romney intended not to go to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hana Amira, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told Voice of Palestine Radio that not holding meeting with Abbas "clearly means that he (Romney) has on purpose neglected the Palestinian cause."