I'm just not going to get into the substance of what a previous
administration may have agreed to.

Robert Wood

Deputy Department Spokesman
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

June 1, 2009

TRANSCRIPT:

11:56 a.m. EDT
www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/124191.htm

...

QUESTION: The New York Times reports today on a series of steps that unnamed
officials say the Administration is considering against Israel if it does
not agree to a full settlement freeze of the sort that Secretary Clinton
described last week. The steps include the possibility of tempering U.S.
support for Israel at the United Nations, at not automatically vetoing
Security Council resolutions that Israel objects to, at using the bully
pulpit to make clear the President and the Administration's unhappiness over
continued settlement activity.

Are any or all of those steps under consideration?

MR. WOOD: Look, what I can say, Arshad, is that, as you know, the President
and the Secretary have made clear that all the parties have responsibilities
to fulfill to give Middle East peace efforts a chance to succeed. And U.S.
and Israeli officials are in intensive discussions on how this can best be
achieved.

As you know, we've long worked to ensure that Israel is treated fairly at
the United Nations. That will continue. And as you know, Israel is a close
friend and ally, and we remain committed to its security. And as I said,
that - you know, that will continue. I'm not going to comment on this New
York Times report, but I think the President and Secretary have spoken very
clearly to where we are with regard to the settlement question.

QUESTION: Can you say that you are not considering any such punitive
actions?

MR. WOOD: Well, you know, Arshad, I certainly wouldn't want to tell you one
way or another what we're engaged in terms of our discussions with Israel. I
mean, there have been a number of Israeli officials that have come to the
United States. The Secretary has been in the region. Senator Mitchell, as
you know, has spent a lot of time there. We're working this issue. And as I
said, both parties have obligations under the Roadmap that they need to live
up to, and we are going to do what we can to help the parties do what they
need to do.

QUESTION: And just one other quick one on Zimbabwe.

MR. WOOD: Sure.

QUESTION: Can I stay with the Roadmap?

QUESTION: Oh, sorry. Yeah, please. James, please.

QUESTION: In stating that all the concerned parties have obligations and the
United States would like to see the parties meet those obligations,
presumably you would agree with me that it is important that everyone
clearly understand what the obligations are; yes?

MR. WOOD: I would agree with that.

QUESTION: The United States, in the form of a letter that President Bush
sent to then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2004, made certain
commitments to the Israeli state. I have tried to ask whether or not the
Obama Administration feels bound by the commitments that President Bush
expressed in that letter, which the Israelis would certainly feel comprise
obligations on the part of the United States that we have made. Does the
United States regard itself as - right now, as being bound by those
commitments that President Bush made?

MR. WOOD: Look, what we are trying to do, James, is to get both parties to
implement their obligations, written obligations in the Roadmap. We're
trying to get those implemented. Our vision for a two-state solution cannot
happen if these obligations are not, you know, held to. And so what Senator
Mitchell has been trying to do is to work with the two sides. Both sides
have an interest in meeting these obligations. They both want peace. We have
said we will be a partner in trying to help them implement them - implement
their obligations.

QUESTION: What about the letter?

MR. WOOD: Well, I - look, I speak for this Administration. I've told you
exactly what we are doing with regard to trying to get both parties to live
up to their written obligations.

QUESTION: What about our written obligations? Do we live up to the ones that
we set?

MR. WOOD: Look, we - the United States lives up to its obligations. Right
now, we are focused on, as I said, trying to get both sides to adhere to the
Roadmap so that we can move forward toward that two-state solution. And it's
not going to be easy, as you know. We've spoken to that many times. And we're
going to continue to try to do that.

QUESTION: Is the letter binding or not on this Administration?

MR. WOOD: Look, what I'm saying to you, James, is we have - there are a
series of obligations that Israel and the Palestinians have undertaken.

QUESTION: I haven't asked about their obligations and what they've
undertaken. I've asked about a letter that this country sent to Israel. I'd
like you to address that letter.

MR. WOOD: Well --

QUESTION: Is it binding on this Administration?

MR. WOOD: Well, this Administration is - as I said, has laid out its
proposals, its strategy for moving forward. And that's about the best I can
help you with on that, James.

QUESTION: Does it entail that letter?

MR. WOOD: I've said what I can say on this right now.

QUESTION: Robert, do you realize that by not saying yes, indeed the U.S.
Government continues to be bound by the letter that former President George
W. Bush sent, you are leaving open in the air the possibility that it does
not see itself as bound?

MR. WOOD: I don't believe I'm doing that at all. What I'm saying to you is
we have had a series of discussions with our Israeli and Palestinian
partners. We've had discussions about their obligations and what both sides
need to do. Both sides are well aware of what they need to do, and they know
that we are trying to help them meet their obligations. And we'll continue
to do that.

And I'm just not going to get into the substance of what a previous
administration may have agreed to. I'm focused on what this Administration
is trying to do right now. And that's where we are.

Okay, thank you all.