Palestinian Unity gov’t./Quartet principles/kidnapped Israeli teens – USDoS press briefing/Non-UN document (excerpts)

Jen Psaki

Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

June 17, 2014

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ISRAEL/PALESTINIANS 

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QUESTION: Have you had any reason to change your position from yesterday regarding working with the national unity government – the Palestinian unity government?

MS. PSAKI: No change in our position, no.

QUESTION: Okay. It seems that Prime Minister – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the world – and that includes you on the Palestinian – to dissolve the – this national unity government. Is that something that you would encourage the Palestinians to do, or Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas?

MS. PSAKI: We’re not. We continue to call on the Palestinians to abide by the Quartet principles. We’ve noted that President Abbas has also condemned these activities and reached out to Prime Minister Netanyahu. There’s clearly more that needs to be done, but nothing’s changed about our position.

QUESTION: And since early this morning, the Israeli army has overtaken many homes in Hebron, in fact tens of homes and so on, keep people under curfew, so to speak, or law. Are you expressing your concern that Palestinian civilians should go about their lives as normal?

MS. PSAKI: I haven’t seen those reports, Said. I’m happy to look into them for you.

QUESTION: Well, more broadly on that, do you have any concerns about the way the Israelis are handling this operation?

MS. PSAKI: Well, they’re conducting an investigation. We’ll let that see itself through. We’ve been in touch with them, but I don’t have any concerns to express here.

QUESTION: Well, there’s been – I mean, the Palestinian community is not – they feel that this is – what’s happening now, they say, represents collective punishment. And I’m just wondering if the U.S. sees it the same way, or do you think that the Israelis are acting with all due diligence and with restraint, or do you have any concerns about it?

MS. PSAKI: Well, as in any case, we encourage all sides to operate with restraint, but I don’t have anything new to add on this topic.

QUESTION: All right. And then on the American citizen —

MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: — is the Privacy Act waiver still an issue?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t have anything new on that front.

QUESTION: Are you calling on the Israelis to perhaps (inaudible) draw back on their heavy hand or to loosen up their heavy hand in handling the Palestinian population over the past 24 hours?

MS. PSAKI: We’ve been in close touch with both sides as a follow-up to the kidnapping of these three teenagers. I will let those conversations take place within diplomatic channels.

QUESTION: Are you concerned that the Israelis also may be taking it out on Palestinian prisoners already incarcerated?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t have anything new to add on this issue.

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http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2014/06/227708.htm#ISRAEL