There’s no question that Donald Trump was a hit at AIPAC this evening.  In an unusual turn for him, Trump stuck closely to prepared remarks read from a teleprompter, and he received several ovations, particularly following his promise that his “number one priority” would be “to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran.” 

Trump was a tough act to follow, but Ted Cruz took the microphone and immediately took a shot at the Republican front-runner. 

Cruz going right at Trump over saying "Palestine" — Katie Glueck (@katieglueck) March 21, 2016

Trump’s own transcript shows him referring to Palestine three times.  It might have slipped past many in the audience, but not past Cruz. 

Cruz goes after Trump, right off the bat: "Palestine has not existed since 1948" — Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) March 21, 2016

Dem Rep. Brad Sherman, in press box, yells "bingo!"  when Cruz dings Trump for saying "Palestine." —  daveweigel (@daveweigel) March 21, 2016

Cruz takes immediate Trump shot: "perhaps to the surprise of the last speaker, Palestine has not existed since 1948." —  Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) March 21, 2016

Cruz: Palestine hasn't existed since 1948.  Get that, Donald?  Points for @tedcruz #AIPAC2016 — Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) March 21, 2016

Cruz whacks Trump's slip right out of the gate: "Palestine has not existed since 1948." —  David Catanese (@davecatanese) March 21, 2016

“Palestine has not existed since 1948” – Ted Cruz, starting his #AIPAC2016 #AIPAC speech Now THAT’S how you start a speech, wow — Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) March 21, 2016

Cruz starts speech with a shot at Trump.  Says it "may come as a surprise to the previous speaker … palestine has not existed since 1948." —  Jon Ward (@jonward11) March 21, 2016

Cruz repeated the line later on CNN, to mixed response from viewers. 

Ted Cruz just said Palestine has existed since 1948.. So it existed before then? —  Amro (@Am_The_Bomb) March 22, 2016

#Cruz keeps repeating "Palestine hasn't existed since 1948" again on @CNN.  But Palestine has never existed, ever.  A mandate isn't statehood. —  Matthew RJ Brodsky (@RJBrodsky) March 22, 2016

@JoyAnnReid Cruz failed the party line by making the case that Palestine existed before Israel instead of being an after the fact invention. —  Henry Cobb (@henrycobb) March 22, 2016

Huh?  Did Cruz really just say that "Palestine has not existed since 1948"?  Does that really means what I think it means? —  Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) March 21, 2016