At 24:25 in the video ABC News’ Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper grills WH Press Secretary Jay Carney over Israel:
TAPPER: One last question. On the subject of Israel, in the last few weeks, whether it comes to the U.S. lobbying against the declaration of statehood or whatever for the Palestinians, the very successful results of the Iron Dome and the U.S. support for Israeli military activities in Gaza, the U.S. has been very steadfastly standing by Israel. I’m wondering, in light of that, other than you expressing displeasure and any paper statements that have gone out on the matter, what the Obama administration, what the president has done or any of his emissaries to express displeasure with what the Israelis are doing right now in terms of settlements and other things described as punitive actions against the Palestinians.
CARNEY: Well, I would refer you to the State Department for communications that may be taking place, as they do on a daily basis, with the Israelis.
TAPPER: So the president hasn’t called Bibi?
CARNEY: I don’t have any conversations of the president’s to read out. But you know, I want to be clear. We oppose unilateral actions that make a return to bilateral negotiations harder.
We oppose, as we long have, Israeli settlement activity and construction in East Jerusalem because they are counterproductive to what we believe is the goal here and should be the goal, which is Israel and a Palestinian state side by side, living in security and freedom. So –
TAPPER: Did we know — did the U.S. know about this before the Netanyahu government announced it?
CARNEY: You know, I wouldn’t — I would refer you to the State Department for those kinds of communications. I can just tell you that –
TAPPER: But in the past, they’ve done it without notifying. In fact, I believe there was one time in — when it was — Netanyahu was arriving here and the announcement was made.
CARNEY: I don’t have information to give you –
TAPPER: When you worked for the vice president — you must remember, when you — when the vice president arrived in Israel one time there was an announcement. That must have been fun.
CARNEY: I can just tell you, Jake, that I don’t have any specific information about those communications between the Israeli government and this administration. We — I don’t think we could be clearer about our position that we oppose unilateral actions that make the return to bilateral negotiations harder. We oppose Israeli settlement activity and construction in East Jerusalem and, you know, we’re obviously communicating that.
TAPPER: But there’s no consequences. They’ll do whatever and you’ll –
CARNEY: Yeah, I don’t have anything additional to provide to you on that.
‘That must have been fun’? Feisty! Go Jake. He’s no Matt Lee but I hope this is the beginning of a trend.
First there was Helen Thomas then there was Jake Tapper. And now we have Chris Hayes focusing on the facts.
First there was Senator Fulbright attempting to shed light on the I lobby in congress decades ago and then there was Congressman Findlay …while Kucinich never focused on the I lobby in congress he has not gone along with all of their anti Palestinian pro Israel no matter what legislation. All Gentiles. Have we ever had one Jewish reporter or Jewish representative stand up in any way shape or form to the bullying Israeli lobby. Not one that I can think of.
Thanks for making this illuminating conversation a bit more public.
HOWEVER: the bottom line is — what ? — are the American people going to
[1] know about the “E-1” plans
[2] the failure of Israel to notify/get green light from Obama
[3] why it all matters anyhow
and (MOST IMPORTANT)
[4] why (THE DEVIL) this “E-1” deallie-poo is any different, any more important, a deal-breaker (or not!) than the other settlements already in place or already planned (and the 750,000 settlers already in place) and the USA’s nonfeasance in regard thereto.
Everyone (including most special pleaders FOR Palestine) seem to regard the existing settlements as necessarily permanent. Hence the fear about the proposed “E-1” settlements.
Why “necessarily permanent” for ANY of them, even those grotesque high-rises surrounding Jerusalem. surely it is time to start making a noise about that?
Mr. Tapper? Mr. Lee? Mr. Weiss?
Obama call Bibi? “Ask the State Department,” means, he’s told Bibi to talk to the hand. A while back, Obama was caught telling Sarkozy, “you think you got problems, I have to talk to the guy every day.” Post-election, Obama is not taking Bibi’s calls, but fielding that chore to his Secretary of State. At this point, Obama is giving Bibi plenty of rope to hang himself — the rest is lip service to satisfy the donors.
Whoa shocking Diane Rehm actually brought up the illegal settlements on her international hour. The guest had a fair amount to say. Now if we can just get Rehm to do an hour on the illegal settlements. She used to be more receptive to exploring the facts on the ground on her program about this conflict. Not so much the last four or five years. Wonder if they are feeling some pressure?
Poor Carney, you can just see the discomfit he’s in trying to get the subject changed and to avoid – heaven forfend – the utterance of even a syllable which might not be 1000% support of The Zionist Entity.
I often wonder how folks like Carney, and this is really not a criticism given the realities of his position as a spokesperson, can hold this job and trot out and dissemble and evade on a daily basis, and still retain a modicum of self-respect.