State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, was questioned by reporters Friday over Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent statement that Israel "must withdraw from other Palestinian cities."
"She didn't talk about--she didn't apply a particular timetable to that, but these are all obligations that are out there in terms of the Road Map
and the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings," McCormack said.
Reporters, dissatisfied with the vagueness of State Department's statements, pressed him to be specific and cited Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's statement that there will have to be a "cooling off period" after
the planned withdrawal from Gaza. Asked if the US subscribes to that
logic, McCormack engaged in a ping-pong match with reporters." I think
that everybody subscribes to the roadmap," he said.
Reporter: "The roadmap is a formula for negotiating. I thought the two
sides decide such things. Has she decided that Israel must withdraw from
Palestinian cities? And could you tell us some of the cities she has in
mind and does she have Jerusalem in mind, for instance?"
McCormack: "There are existing obligations under the roadmap and the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings. And, as you know, the roadmap is a
performance-based document. It allows the parties to move as quickly as
they are able to come to political decisions as well as have the
capability to enforce those decisions... Does anybody have another
question?"
Reporter: I don't want to drop it. What is the State Department's position? Has the State Department concluded that Israel must withdraw from additional Palestinian cities?"
McCormack: "We support the roadmap as a political way forward so the two
parties can achieve what they both want: two states living side by side in
peace and security. What we also stand by are the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings as well. Again, this is a matter for the two parties to
work out."
Regarding United Nations Development Program money being used for
anti-Israeli propaganda, McCormack said that American United Nations
Ambassador John Bolton stated that such activity is "inappropriate and
unacceptable." The funds were used to promote a campaign proclaiming "Gaza
Today, Jerusalem Tomorrow."
But MCormack insisted he had no knowledge that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is using American money for such activities.
When asked about Arab financial support for the PA, the State Department spokesman refused to identify which Arab countries are helping.
"I would leave it to those countries to talk about what assistance they are providing to the Palestinians in this process," McCormack said.
A reporter shot back, "So the embarrassment factor isn't in play here? You
don't think making public statements that such and such a country -- I
mean, you're happy to tell us how generous Japan is in other contexts and
that, I think, is partly designed to compliment Japan, which is number two
to the U.S. in contributing to causes, and also to encourage other
countries by example. Can you pull an Arab country out of the air and say
the UAE [United Arab Emirate] or somebody has come through on their pledge
and hey guys, you other guys, why don't you follow that example?
McCormack replied, "I think that I'll leave it to the countries involved
to talk about it."
"She didn't talk about--she didn't apply a particular timetable to that, but these are all obligations that are out there in terms of the Road Map
and the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings," McCormack said.
Reporters, dissatisfied with the vagueness of State Department's statements, pressed him to be specific and cited Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon's statement that there will have to be a "cooling off period" after
the planned withdrawal from Gaza. Asked if the US subscribes to that
logic, McCormack engaged in a ping-pong match with reporters." I think
that everybody subscribes to the roadmap," he said.
Reporter: "The roadmap is a formula for negotiating. I thought the two
sides decide such things. Has she decided that Israel must withdraw from
Palestinian cities? And could you tell us some of the cities she has in
mind and does she have Jerusalem in mind, for instance?"
McCormack: "There are existing obligations under the roadmap and the
Sharm el-Sheikh understandings. And, as you know, the roadmap is a
performance-based document. It allows the parties to move as quickly as
they are able to come to political decisions as well as have the
capability to enforce those decisions... Does anybody have another
question?"
Reporter: I don't want to drop it. What is the State Department's position? Has the State Department concluded that Israel must withdraw from additional Palestinian cities?"
McCormack: "We support the roadmap as a political way forward so the two
parties can achieve what they both want: two states living side by side in
peace and security. What we also stand by are the Sharm el-Sheikh
understandings as well. Again, this is a matter for the two parties to
work out."
Regarding United Nations Development Program money being used for
anti-Israeli propaganda, McCormack said that American United Nations
Ambassador John Bolton stated that such activity is "inappropriate and
unacceptable." The funds were used to promote a campaign proclaiming "Gaza
Today, Jerusalem Tomorrow."
But MCormack insisted he had no knowledge that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is using American money for such activities.
When asked about Arab financial support for the PA, the State Department spokesman refused to identify which Arab countries are helping.
"I would leave it to those countries to talk about what assistance they are providing to the Palestinians in this process," McCormack said.
A reporter shot back, "So the embarrassment factor isn't in play here? You
don't think making public statements that such and such a country -- I
mean, you're happy to tell us how generous Japan is in other contexts and
that, I think, is partly designed to compliment Japan, which is number two
to the U.S. in contributing to causes, and also to encourage other
countries by example. Can you pull an Arab country out of the air and say
the UAE [United Arab Emirate] or somebody has come through on their pledge
and hey guys, you other guys, why don't you follow that example?
McCormack replied, "I think that I'll leave it to the countries involved
to talk about it."