WND AT THE WHITE HOUSE
White House refuses to name Israel's capital
Watch 2 most senior correspondents corner press secretary to get answer
White House press secretary Jay Carney publicly snubbed Connie Lawn of USA Radio Network and WND’s Les Kinsolving as they questioned him.
The exchange began with a question from Lawn, the most senior reporter on the beat.
The White House transcript reveals the exchange went like this:
CARNEY: Yes, Connie.
Q. What city does this administration consider to be the capital of Israel – Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
CARNEY: I haven’t had that question in a while. Our position has not changed, Connie.
Q. What is the position? What’s the capital?
CARNEY: You know our position.
Q. I don’t.
Q. (Kinsolving joins.) No, no, she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know. That’s why she asked.
CARNEY: She does know –
Q. I don’t.
Q. (Kinsolving) She does not know. She just said she doesn’t know. I don’t know.
CARNEY: We have long – Les, I call on Christi. Go ahead.
Q. Back on the question of gun violence. Why did the president wait? What’s the reason for the venue and the timing of those remarks?
CARNEY: The remarks last night? Well, it was a very appropriate venue – it was the Urban League Conference. He talked about a number of issues, especially the economy, as well as the problem of violence in urban communities.
Q. But those were his most extensive and impassioned remarks, and I just wondered if he’s planning to do that in a more noticeable venue at a more noticeable time.
CARNEY:You mean a speech in front of a vast audience with television cameras is not more noticeable?
Q. Late at night, it was five days later –
CARNEY: Well, we didn’t schedule – we didn’t organize the conference. It was a very appropriate place to have that conversation.
Q. (Kinsolving) Tel Aviv or Jerusalem?
CARNEY: You know the answer.
Q. Yes.
Q. (Kinsolving) No, I don’t know the answer. We don’t know the answer. Could you just give us an answer? What do you recognize – what does –
CARNEY: Our position hasn’t changed, Lester.
Kinsolving is right behind Lawn in seniority among White House reporters.
Joseph Farah, founder and editor of WND, applauded Kinsolving’s efforts to extract an answer from the White House.
“WND White House correspondent Les Kinsolving doesn’t get the respect he deserves among his colleagues or in the Obama administration,” Farah said. “But this demonstrates the vital public service he provides by being there – even though he is seldom called upon by people like the clueless Carney.
He added, “Let’s face it. Nobody knows what the administration’s position is on a simple matter of which city the U.S. recognizes as the capital of Israel – including the White House spokesman. But Kinsolving wouldn’t let him dodge this bullet. By his dogged persistence, he demonstrated to the entire world this administration is like a rudderless ship.”
The issue of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has surfaced periodically as Palestinians often refuse to acknowledge the city’s status.
Most recently, WND reported that the issue arose at the London Olympics.
There, saying that the Games should not be distorted by politics, the chief of an international litigation and policy organization is calling on the British Broadcasting Corp. to make corrections in its website – where Palestine is described as having its “intended capital” in East Jerusalem.
At the same time, the Israeli page notes that there is no “capital” but that its “seat of government” is in Jerusalem.
“Since King David made Jerusalem the capital of Israel, Jerusalem has played a key role in the government, culture, religion and history of the Jewish nation,” said Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel. “Jerusalem is Israel’s capital city. The BBC should list this fact on its Olympics website, like it has done for every other country.
“The Olympics should transcend politics,” said Staver, whose organization is dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
The BBC site notes that for Israel, “most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv.” But for Palestine, which is not a nation, the BBC announces the “intended seat of government” is East Jerusalem.
“Palestine is recognized as a competing country by the IOC but is not recognized as a modern state,” the site added.
According to Liberty Counsel, Mark Regrev, adviser of foreign press and public affairs at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Bureau, described the statements as “discrimination” in a letter to Paul Danahar, BBC Middle East bureau chief.
Before Israel’s protest, Liberty Counsel documented, the BBC website listed Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and omitted Jerusalem as the capital for Israel. While the photos identifying Iran, Syria and Libya depicted peaceful cultural scenes, the picture for Israel depicted an Israeli soldier confronting a protester.
“Following several letters from Mr. Regev, the BBC modified the website to list Jerusalem as the ‘Seat of government’ for Israel and Jerusalem as the ‘Intended seat of government’ for ‘Palestine.’ These changes are still not sufficient,” Liberty Counsel said.
“We cannot accept those who deny our history, our sovereignty, and our right to determine our own capital,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. “Irrespective of the BBC’s political agenda, Jerusalem is, was, and always will be the capital of Israel.”
Politics
State Department Won’t Say Jerusalem is Capital of Israel
- Posted on March 28, 2012 at 6:35pm by
Mytheos Holt
If the Obama administration wants to soften its image among Israel supporters as being questionably interested in Israel’s interests, then refusing to describe Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was probably not the way to do it. In a press conference today, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland did exactly that, to the consternation of many reporters who repeatedly kept trying to clarify her remarks, only to be repeatedly stonewalled. The Weekly Standard has a transcript of the exchange, of which the relevant passage is as follows:
Some would probably argue that coming down on one side or another of this question might have tipped the Obama administration’s hand too much on U.S. policy regarding Israel. Yet this ignores the fact that under current U.S. law, Jerusalem is considered the capital of Israel. That boat has sailed.
Blaze reader markedmanner has posted video of the exchange. You can watch it here
Q: Is it the view of the — of the United States that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, notwithstanding the question about the embassy — the location of the U.S. embassy?
MS. NULAND: We are not going to prejudge the outcome of those negotiations, including the final status of Jerusalem.
Q: Does that — does that mean that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Jerusalem is a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through negotiations.
Q: That seems to suggest that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Is that correct or not?
MS. NULAND: I have just spoken to this issue –
Q: (Inaudible.)
MS. NULAND: — and I have nothing further to say on it.
Q: You’ve spoken to the issue –
MS. NULAND: Yeah.
Q: — but (haven’t answered ?) the question. And I think there’s a lot of people out there who are interested in hearing a real answer and not saying — and not trying to duck and say that this has got to be resolved by negotiations between the two sides.
MS. NULAND: That is our –The story comes just after the Washington Free Beacon noted that the State Department had listed Israel and Jerusalem as separate entities in a press release, which has since been amended. Originally, the release read as follows:
Q: What is the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations. That’s all I have to say on this issue.
Some would probably argue that coming down on one side or another of this question might have tipped the Obama administration’s hand too much on U.S. policy regarding Israel. Yet this ignores the fact that under current U.S. law, Jerusalem is considered the capital of Israel. That boat has sailed.
Blaze reader markedmanner has posted video of the exchange. You can watch it here
Is the administration hardening its anti-Israel credentials even further? Weigh in below.
Obama State Dept Refuses to Say Jerusalem Capital of Israel
Posted on March 29, 2012 by creeping
Wow. via State Has Issues | Washington Free Beacon.
A State Department official refused to state that Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel when pressed today by AP State Department reporter Matt Lee.
The Free Beacon was first to report yesterday that the department had quietly altered an official communication that originally referred to Israel and Jerusalem and separate entities.
When pressed by a reporter earlier today, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland carefully avoided calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel, instead deflecting the query by claiming that Jerusalem’s ultimate status will only be determined in peace negotiations by the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The first media note was issued in error, without appropriate clearances,” Nuland explained when asked about the altered press release. “We reissued the note to make clear that undersecretary, acting undersecretary for—our—Kathy Stephens will be travelling to Algiers, Doha, Amman, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. With regard to our Jerusalem policy, it’s a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through the negotiations between the parties.”
Pressed further on whether the State Department considers any part of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city, Nuland bristled.
“Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations,” she said. “That’s all I have to say on this issue.”
A State Department official refused to state that Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel when pressed today by AP State Department reporter Matt Lee.
The Free Beacon was first to report yesterday that the department had quietly altered an official communication that originally referred to Israel and Jerusalem and separate entities.
When pressed by a reporter earlier today, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland carefully avoided calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel, instead deflecting the query by claiming that Jerusalem’s ultimate status will only be determined in peace negotiations by the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The first media note was issued in error, without appropriate clearances,” Nuland explained when asked about the altered press release. “We reissued the note to make clear that undersecretary, acting undersecretary for—our—Kathy Stephens will be travelling to Algiers, Doha, Amman, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. With regard to our Jerusalem policy, it’s a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through the negotiations between the parties.”
Pressed further on whether the State Department considers any part of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city, Nuland bristled.
“Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations,” she said. “That’s all I have to say on this issue.”
State Has Issues
State Dept: Jerusalem not the Capital of Israel, ‘Permanent Status Issue’
AP Images
The Free Beacon was first to report yesterday that the department had quietly altered an official communication that originally referred to Israel and Jerusalem and separate entities.
When pressed by a reporter earlier today, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland carefully avoided calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel, instead deflecting the query by claiming that Jerusalem’s ultimate status will only be determined in peace negotiations by the Israelis and Palestinians.
“The first media note was issued in error, without appropriate clearances,” Nuland explained when asked about the altered press release. “We reissued the note to make clear that undersecretary, acting undersecretary for—our—Kathy Stephens will be travelling to Algiers, Doha, Amman, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. With regard to our Jerusalem policy, it’s a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through the negotiations between the parties.”
Pressed further on whether the State Department considers any part of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city, Nuland bristled.
“Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations,” she said. “That’s all I have to say on this issue.”
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Q: Yesterday there was a bit of a kerfuffle over an announcement that was made by the department about the travel of your boss.
Is it the State Department’s position that Jerusalem is not part of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Well, you know that our position on Jerusalem has not changed. The first media note was issued in error, without appropriate clearances. We reissued the note to make clear that undersecretary, acting undersecretary for—our—Kathy Stephens will be travelling to Algiers, Doha, Amman, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. With regard to our Jerusalem policy, it’s a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through the negotiations between the parties.
Q: Is it the view of the—of the United States that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, notwithstanding the question about the embassy—the location of the U.S. embassy?
MS. NULAND: We are not going to prejudge the outcome of those negotiations, including the final status of Jerusalem.
Q: Does that—does that mean that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Jerusalem is a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through negotiations.
Q: That seems to suggest that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Is that correct or not?
MS. NULAND: I have just spoken to this issue –
Q: (Inaudible.)
MS. NULAND: — and I have nothing further to say on it.
Q: You’ve spoken to the issue –
MS. NULAND: Yeah.
Q: — but (haven’t answered ?) the question. And I think there’s a lot of people out there who are interested in hearing a real answer and not saying—and not trying to duck and say that this has got to be resolved by negotiations between the two sides.
MS. NULAND: That is our –
Q: What is the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations. That’s all I have to say on this issue.
Q: What is the capital of Israel according –
MS. NULAND: Our embassy, as you know, is located in Tel Aviv.
Q: So does that mean you regard Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: The issue on Jerusalem has to be settled through negotiations.
….
Q: I just want to go back to—I want to clarify something, perhaps give you an “out” on your Jerusalem answer. Is it your—is it your position that all of Jerusalem is a final-status issue, or do you think—or is it just East Jerusalem?
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything further to what I’ve said 17 times on that subject. OK?
Q: All right. So hold on. So I just want to make sure. You’re saying that all of Jerusalem, not just East Jerusalem, is a final-status issue.
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything further on Jerusalem to what I’ve already said.
OBAMA LIED in 2008. Now he refuses to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
Posted: March 28, 2012 Filed
When pressed further, Nuland stood her ground. “Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations. That’s all I have to say on this issue,” said Nuland. Later, an apparently irritated spokesman again repeated her commitment not to answer the simple question. “I don’t have anything further to what I’ve said 17 times on that subject,” said Nuland. “OK?”
The Exchange:
Q: Is it the view of the — of the United States that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, notwithstanding the question about the embassy — the location of the U.S. embassy?
MS. NULAND: We are not going to prejudge the outcome of those negotiations, including the final status of Jerusalem.
Q: Does that — does that mean that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Jerusalem is a permanent-status issue. It’s got to be resolved through negotiations.
Q: That seems to suggest that you do not regard Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Is that correct or not?
MS. NULAND: I have just spoken to this issue –
Q: (Inaudible.)
MS. NULAND: — and I have nothing further to say on it.
Q: You’ve spoken to the issue –
MS. NULAND: Yeah.
Q: — but you haven’t answered the question. And I think there’s a lot of people out there who are interested in hearing a real answer and not saying — and not trying to duck and say that this has got to be resolved by negotiations between the two sides.
MS. NULAND: That is our –
Q: What is the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: Our policy with regard to Jerusalem is that it has to be solved through negotiations. That’s all I have to say on this issue.
Q: What is the capital of Israel according –
MS. NULAND: Our embassy, as you know, is located in Tel Aviv.
Q: So does that mean you regard Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel?
MS. NULAND: The issue on Jerusalem has to be settled through negotiations.
Q: I just want to go back to — I want to clarify something, perhaps give you an “out” on your Jerusalem answer. Is it your — is it your position that all of Jerusalem is a final-status issue, or do you think — or is it just East Jerusalem?
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything further to what I’ve said 17 times on that subject. OK?
Q: All right. So hold on. So I just want to make sure. You’re saying that all of Jerusalem, not just East Jerusalem, is a final-status issue.
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything further on Jerusalem to what I’ve already said.
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