Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 5/18/2009
EmailTAPPER: Certainly, no one would begrudge President Obama for attempting to get the peace process moving along. But I was just wondering if you could share with us any possible reason for optimism. You have an Israeli government that is conservative. Even if Netanyahu supported a two-state solution, it’s unlikely that he’d be able to get the Knesset to go along with it. You have, as the president acknowledged, Egyptians allowing weapons to be smuggled into Gaza. I don’t even know what to say about the Palestinian government. Why would President Obama feel any optimism, beyond the fact that he’s an optimistic guy?
GIBBS: Well, that’s certainly a good start.
(LAUGHTER)
TAPPER: But beyond that?
GIBBS: Look, I think you had the prime minister and the president both say they believed that we had a unique opportunity to seek long-term peace in the region. I don’t — I think the president would tell you that he doesn’t expect any of this to be easy, that the fact that we haven’t had it thus far underscores the complexity of the issues that are involved. But I think, as you heard the prime minister — the prime minister himself say, in the availability, that there was a greater understanding amongst those that want peace now, and understanding of the common threat of our enemies, than at any other point. I think that certainly leads you to be optimistic. Look, again, there’s a long way to go. But the president believes the conversations were a good start. He’s met with others, including King Abdullah of Jordan. We’ll see, later this month, Mr. Mubarak, Mr. Abbas. And as I said, I think the president felt good enough to ask his team to follow up again with the Israeli delegation this afternoon. So I think the president believes that there’s enough reason to hope to continue working.
TAPPER: There has been — in the past, some people have proposed sending U.N. troops to the Palestinian territories as a way to protect — as a way to provide security for both parties. Is that something President Obama would support?
GIBBS: I don’t — I don’t think they got into that level of detail today.
– jpt
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Posted by: tarpon | May 18, 2009, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
A friend just made the comment that a Palestinian State is a means to an end for Obama. That end being a Nobel Prize and international acclaim for being the one who brought peace to the Middle East. My friend believes Obama doesn’t really care about a Palestinian state for its own sake.
I hold my friend in great esteem but hope he is wrong about the president’s motivation.
Posted by: mad | May 18, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Jack Tripper was the best thing that ever happened to ABC.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 18, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
I wonder what the magic sanction is (aside from military intervention) that would cause Iran to stop their nuke ambitions. It seems apparent that EU nations and Russia don’t really care if Iran gets the nukes as they don’t want to lose the business. Maybe the magic sanction is cutting off Iran’s American cigarette supply, huh?
Posted by: Sigmonde | May 18, 2009, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Well Jake I do not believe it would be constructive to say, it isn’t going to work but we will try anyway.
Well the hell don’t you use your head!
Posted by: Thinking | May 18, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Gibbs: Look, I think you had the prime minister and the president both say they believed that we had a unique opportunity to seek long-term peace in the region
========
Here’s hoping this unique opportunity is more successful than all the previous unique opportunities.
Posted by: MayBee | May 18, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
TAPPER: Certainly, no one would begrudge President Obama for attempting to get the peace process moving along. But I was just wondering if you could share with us any possible reason for optimism. You have an Israeli government that is conservative. Even if Netanyahu supported a two-state solution, it’s unlikely that he’d be able to get the Knesset to go along with it.
- This everyone knows. If Netanyahu messes up he will be out of office. That was a very close race in Israel. The mainstream media covered it well.
TAPPER: You have, as the president acknowledged, Egyptians allowing weapons to be smuggled into Gaza. I don’t even know what to say about the Palestinian government. Why would President Obama feel any optimism, beyond the fact that he’s an optimistic guy?
- A recent poll showed that President Obama had high poll approval among Arabs higher then the USA. Egyptians are looking forward to President Obama’s visit to the middle east. You can sense that Egyptians, Jordan and Saudi Arabia know that this President will listen and valve their thoughts and advice on the region. Bush never listen to anyone. This is good. It mean we have allies who will work with us final.
TAPPER: There has been — in the past, some people have proposed sending U.N. troops to the Palestinian territories as a way to protect — as a way to provide security for both parties. Is that something President Obama would support?
- I sure that this would come up when President Obama meets the all the leaders. Its time to listen to the Egyptians, Jordan and Saudi Arabia allies on this issue. They have a ancient history thousands of years old, speak the language and know the people.
How did I do Tapper? If I had access to that magic vest with tips left in it from previous Press Secretaries I sure I would learn and rock that room :-D
Posted by: Democrats Rock | May 18, 2009, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
Jack Tripper was the best thing that ever happened to ABC.
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Dude, I agree with you a 120%!
Posted by: amber | May 18, 2009, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
HaHaHa thats a good one Gibbs :-D
GIBBS: Well, that’s certainly a good start.
Posted by: Pat | May 18, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
The Israeli Dept of Tourism is sending out ads with a map of “Israel” that includes all of the West Bank and Gaza as well.
Which “Israel” do they want the Palestinians to recognize? If they recognize that one, what is left to negotiate?
Posted by: Flash Override | May 18, 2009, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
As soon as the Palestinian Department of Tourism gets up and running they can send out their maps that you can fnd on any Palestinian website that shows all of Israel as Palestine.
Posted by: Axey | May 18, 2009, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
Axey, the Palestinians, and the rest of the world, have agreed to the 1967 borders. The only one who doesn’t recognize Israel is in fact…Israel.
Posted by: Flash Override | May 18, 2009, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
“In the past, peace processors have presumed that the creation of a [Jew-free Islamic Republic of Palestine] would by itself produce peace. The presumption has no evidence to support it, and plenty of evidence (such as the results of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza) that refutes it.”
Posted by: Anne Lieberman | May 19, 2009, 8:30 am 8:30 am
amber… good catch.. thought it said Jake Tapper…
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 19, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am