02 April 2002
Israel Has No Intention To Stay in Palestinian Areas
(State Department daily press briefing April 2) (5610)
State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker, speaking April 2 at
the daily State Department briefing in Washington, repeated Secretary
of State Colin Powell's statement that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon reaffirmed to him that Israel "has no intention of staying
within the Palestinian areas."
The deputy spokesman also said that it is "imperative that Israeli
Defense Forces exercise restraint and discipline to avoid further harm
to civilians or worsening the humanitarian situation inside
Palestinian areas."
Reeker said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian
Authority continue to have responsibilities in the crisis. "They must
make clear publicly and repeatedly that the terror and violence must
stop now," Reeker said.
He also called upon world and religious leaders to speak out against
terrorism, including suicide attacks against civilians.
"[L]eaders of governments as well as prominent people within various
societies have spoken out against terrorism, have spoken out against
suicide bombing, and those that haven't, should," said Reeker.
He called upon leaders worldwide to "make clear to the Palestinian
people, and any of those who would promote this senseless killing,
that it simply undermines the leadership of Chairman Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority, and undermines their own dreams and visions for
a life of security in their own state."
Following are excerpts from the April 2 State Department briefing
containing comments about the Middle East:
(begin excerpts)
QUESTION: Can we go to the Middle East and talk about events of the
day?
MR. REEKER: Anything else on the passport? I am not going to have a
lot to add. The Secretary, as you know, was out on five morning
television news programs this morning, including yours, Charlie --
QUESTION: That was five hours ago. I'm looking for news.
MR. REEKER: -- and I think covered most of the topics. As you are
aware, we continue to be very concerned about the ongoing violence and
confrontation in the region. The responsibilities of Chairman Arafat
and the Palestinian Authority remain. They must make clear publicly
and repeatedly that the terror and violence must stop now. And as
Secretary Powell said, terrorist bombings are senseless, the violence
kills innocent people, and it is destroying the Palestinians' own
dream for a state of their own.
General Zinni remains engaged. The Secretary continues his discussions
with the parties and with regional and international leaders to
underscore the need for action.
As the Secretary said this morning, we are also conveying a message to
Prime Minister Sharon to be mindful of the necessity of finding a way
to achieve a peaceful solution to this conflict through political
dialogue. As we said yesterday, it is also imperative that Israeli
Defense Forces exercise restraint and discipline to avoid further harm
to civilians, or worsening the humanitarian situation inside
Palestinian areas. We mentioned yesterday that Israeli forces must
ensure that maximum care is taken to prevent harm to humanitarian
workers, and should put in place procedures that allow safe and secure
passage for humanitarian purposes, including unfettered access for
ambulances, emergency medical personnel through Israeli checkpoints,
and barriers to Palestinian movement.
QUESTION: In one of those TV things, Phil, he -- speculated? Maybe
it's more than speculation; maybe he was informed -- by Sharon,
perhaps? -- that he thought that the Israeli operation, military
operation, would take a couple of weeks, as he put it, which sounds a
little bit general.
And Peres, the Foreign Minister of Israel, is talking what about four
weeks. Can you add anything to this? Did this come from Sharon? And do
we mean two, or four, or three?
MR. REEKER: I really can't. I think the Secretary was quite clear in
the series of interviews that we don't have any way of knowing about
the resolution of this. But as the Secretary says, we have talked to
Prime Minister Sharon about the resolution. We have said we understand
the Israeli need to act in self-defense in response to the terrorist
bombings, the suicide bombings that have killed so many people. But as
the Secretary said, get it over with as quickly as possible. And he
reiterated in his interviews that Prime Minister Sharon has reaffirmed
he has no intention of staying within the Palestinian areas, and that
is because in the end of this process, we need to confront the
violence, we need to find a political solution, we need to get into
Tenet and move forward into Mitchell, as the Secretary described this
morning.
QUESTION: And the other thing, he made reference to continued
contacts. Can you tick off a few? Apparently the Jordanian Prime
Minister talked with --
MR. REEKER: Let me mention the phone calls the Secretary has had
today. I think we discussed, or I discussed with many of you, the
calls Secretary Powell had yesterday -- that is, Monday -- with
Foreign Minister Kawaguchi of Japan; Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary
General; President Musharraf of Pakistan, which was obviously about
Pakistan issues; and with Prime Minister Sharon.
Then today, Secretary Powell has spoken with Foreign Minister Ivanov
of Russia; with the Jordanian Prime Minister, Mr. Abu Ragheb; with Mr.
Solana of the European Union; again with UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan; and with the Canadian Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister
Graham.
QUESTION: In these operations, the Israelis have claimed that they
have unearthed a lot of documents and other evidence that directly
links Arafat to ordering the suicide bombings. Has any of this been
shared with the United States?
MR. REEKER: I'm not aware of those reports. I haven't --
QUESTION: Can you look into it?
MR. REEKER: I haven't seen those reports. I don't know that we would
-- I mean, I am happy to ask, but it is not something that I have
seen. I would refer you to the Israelis on that.
QUESTION: Phil, can you talk a little bit about the new Travel Warning
(inaudible) and the authorized departure?
MR. REEKER: You may have noticed, as Matt indicates, that we did
update our Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, part of
our consular information system, obviously available on the web site
or through fax or phone, noting that the Department has authorized the
departure of family members of US consulate personnel from the
American Consulate General in Jerusalem. The decision was made in
light of the deterioration in the security situation in Jerusalem in
the past few weeks. And so the Consulate-General in Jerusalem has
notified American citizens of this development through the Warden
system. And as I indicated, we updated our Travel Warning and issued
that, apprising the American community at large of the decisions and
the reasons for taking the action.
The authorized departure, again, of dependents -- that is, family
members -- of our personnel is approved for a period not to exceed 30
days. And prior to the end of that period, the situation will be
re-evaluated. So I think the Travel Warning itself makes quite clear
that this is a step we have taken to allow family members, dependents
of our personnel, to depart voluntarily as a result of the increase in
terrorist attacks and the escalation of violence there.
QUESTION: Where do they go? Do they have to come back to the States,
or can they go pretty much anywhere?
MR. REEKER: I think the travel is authorized to the United States.
QUESTION: So they come back here?
MR. REEKER: I think that is the standard thing. I think, you know,
exceptions can be made if people have good reason for going somewhere
else.
QUESTION: Okay, okay. And this means the 30-day not-to-exceed -- which
means that after the 30 days, that their travel back won't be paid
for?
MR. REEKER: No. The status of the authorized departure would be
reviewed then, and so we can't make a prediction what it will be in 30
days.
QUESTION: Well, okay, but anyway, whenever it ends -- whether you
decide to extend it for another 30 days or whatever -- does the end of
the authorized departure mean that if you're not back by the time it
expires, you have --
MR. REEKER: I guess I would have to check if -- when you could make
your return trip.
MS. CASSEL: It would be an orderly process to return --
QUESTION: Right. But what I'm trying to get at is that this authorized
departure basically means that the US Government pays for the travel.
MR. REEKER: For the family member to travel, exactly.
QUESTION: Right. And when does that -- so is there a point at which
travel back, you won't pay for?
MR. REEKER: Well, it all depends on what happens to the status of the
authorized departure --
QUESTION: Right, right, I know that.
MR. REEKER: -- and then I guess I could ask on the management side
exactly what the type of things are. This is a standard procedure for
our employees, our personnel and their families who are posted abroad.
QUESTION: Did the US ask Ambassador Martin Indyk to remain in Israel
to work on the situation in the Middle East?
MR. REEKER: I don't believe Martin Indyk has been our ambassador in
Israel for some time.
QUESTION: Former US ambassador. He is -- he is visiting there --
MR. REEKER: Oh. Not that I am aware of.
QUESTION: Have you --
MR. REEKER: You are catching me completely unaware. I didn't know that
he was there, and I am not aware that we have had any contact with
him.
QUESTION: You're not aware?
MR. REEKER: Happy to ask.
QUESTION: Could you, because one of those television networks has made
a -- just before the briefing --
MR. REEKER: Which one might it be?
QUESTION: Oh, I don't want to advertise TV networks.
QUESTION: Three letters.
MR. REEKER: Okay. I will be happy to ask on that. Sorry, Betsy.
QUESTION: The one that usually carries government information
instantly.
MR. REEKER: I hadn't even heard that. I will check into former
Ambassador Indyk's -- former Assistant Secretary Indyk's -- contact
with the US Government and status. Thanks.
QUESTION: Well, while we're on that, can I follow up quickly?
Secretary Albright has volunteered to be a special envoy, to pick up,
as she puts it, where Barak and Arafat left off. She thought that was
a good starting point for negotiations. Has she come to the State
Department, been in touch with the State Department offering her
services?
MR. REEKER: I don't know. I would ask -- direct you to Secretary
Albright's office. I'd be happy to get you the number.
QUESTION: I have it, thanks.
QUESTION: This morning, Secretary Powell did not reiterate what we
talked about yesterday, about the need for an Israeli withdrawal
immediately. He --
MR. REEKER: I don't think we ever said that yesterday.
QUESTION: "Now." He did not say "now" either.
MR. REEKER: I would refer you back to everything that we talked about
yesterday. That word was not in the Security Council resolution, was
not used in our thing. And --
QUESTION: He used it.
MR. REEKER: -- you used it, right. I think Secretary Powell was very
clear, again, about the UN Security Council resolutions that we have
supported -- three weeks ago, Security Council Resolution 1395 and all
that it called for.
QUESTION: I'm not asking about the resolutions.
MR. REEKER: Well, you just brought them up.
QUESTION: No, I didn't. I said he did not reiterate what you said
yesterday about withdrawal now, immediately --
MR. REEKER: I think you need to look back at what I said yesterday,
what we talked about about taking the steps that are important,
including implementing Security Council resolutions. That is what we
talked about. That is what we still believe in. It is what the
Secretary reiterated again today.
QUESTION: Have we communicated to the Israelis directly that we want a
withdrawal now?
MR. REEKER: I think Secretary Powell has made clear to Chairman Arafat
exactly -- reverse that -- made clear to Chairman Arafat what he needs
to do. We have talked about that. He has also made clear to Prime
Minister Sharon our views -- and I express that again -- that the
Security Council resolutions are important. They are the way forward.
They express a lot of things and a lot of steps that can be taken.
And all of those things are going to be important as we move forward
because, as the Secretary said in any number of the interviews this
morning, at the end of the day we have got to have a political
solution to this. We have got to work out through the Tenet work plan,
through the Mitchell process, a solution to get us back to negotiation
on the basis of other UN Security Council resolutions, 242 and 338.
And that is exactly where we stand. I think that is what the Secretary
reflected this morning.
QUESTION: Do you have any specific comment on the fact that the
Israelis have attacked a compound of Jibril Rajoub, the West Bank
security chief?
MR. REEKER: I don't think I do. I think we have followed the news. I
don't have anything specific on that.
QUESTION: Yesterday you mentioned that the environment in a lot of the
security meetings being better in some cases than some of the public
statements. Rajoub has been one of those key participants. Do you
expect that this attack may have further -- make it more difficult to
have these sorts of security meetings that Zinni has been pushing for?
MR. REEKER: Well, I don't think I could characterize it at this point,
Eli. I just don't think I could do the analysis or speculate on the
effects of that. We have repeatedly said that both sides have to do
everything possible to reduce confrontation and to avoid harm to
civilians, which would apply in that situation as well, but I just
don't have a specific readout on where things stand there.
QUESTION: Phil, I'm just a little confused about your answer to Teri's
question. Are you saying that yesterday you didn't say that the UN
Security Council resolution that passed on Saturday should be
implemented now?
MR. REEKER: I did say that, Matt. That is what we want to see. There
are lots of things. That's exactly what I said yesterday, exactly what
Secretary Powell said this morning -- all of those points. We don't
have to do it again.
QUESTION: All right, it's just that I thought that you said you didn't
--
MR. REEKER: No, what was characterized in the initial question was a
phrase and a word that was not used yesterday, and that is what I said
didn't (inaudible).
QUESTION: What effect is this fighting in the Middle East having on US
relations with Arab and other Muslim countries? Are you concerned
about deterioration of US relations with Muslim and Arab countries? I
notice the Secretary spoke to the Jordanian prime minister. So can you
talk a little about this?
MR. REEKER: Well, over a period of time, and as you have followed
this, the Secretary has spoken with many, if not most, leaders in the
region -- foreign ministers, presidents, kings -- as well as allies
and friends in Europe, others that are interested in this in the
international community. Because it is in all our interests to see a
way forward and a peaceful solution to the current crisis, the current
situation in the Middle East, and of course in the longer run to see
the Israelis and the Palestinians move toward the vision that we have
all embraced, and that is of two separate states living side by side
in peace in the region: Israel and Palestine.
We have very strong relationships with so many countries in the
region. The Vice President was just recently traveling, as you know,
throughout the region, where he met with any number of leaders there
to discuss bilateral relations, to discuss regional issues, including
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All of those things came up. We keep
in close contact with all of these countries, and that is what we will
continue to do, because it is in all our interests to see a resolution
to this.
QUESTION: Can I follow up? How is this violence in the Middle East
affecting US relations with Muslim -- other Arab -- and Arab countries
in the region?
MR. REEKER: Again, I think that is one of those analysis type
questions that would I leave for you and any dozens of analysts and
writers that look into these issues.
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. REEKER: I think I had pointed out that we have important, strong
relationships with each of the countries there. We deal with them on
an individual basis. We talk about bilateral issues, we talk about
regional issues indeed, and we all want to see a way forward. As you
know, the Arab League summit produced a communiqué last week which we
embraced in terms of the vision expounded by Crown Prince Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia. It matches the vision that we have. We have put that
vision into Security Council resolutions and we would like both sides
in the conflict to think about that as they see their way forward to
getting back on to the path toward peace.
QUESTION: Phil, can you talk more about the Secretary's call to
General Musharraf? And, two, why the Muslim -- most of the Muslim
countries and Arab countries are -- have not -- they have not
condemned the suicide bombings?
MR. REEKER: I don't have any more particular details about the
Secretary's call with President Musharraf. He has spoken to him
regularly. They talk about all kinds of issues -- Afghanistan, our
continuing cooperation in the war on terror. You saw the statement
from the press secretary about the recent cooperation we had in the
law enforcement sector.
In terms of your other suggestion, I think I would beg to differ with
your characterization of that. Many leaders have spoken out, including
Muslims, including Arab leaders. Leaders of governments as well as
prominent people within various societies have spoken out against
terrorism, have spoken out against suicide bombing. And those that
haven't should.
I think the Secretary has been quite clear in his call to have all
leaders in the region and around the world stand up and speak out
against this to make clear to the Palestinian people and any of those
who would promote this senseless killing that it simply undermines the
leadership of Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority and
undermines their own dreams and visions for a life of security in
their own state.
QUESTION: Phil, since you didn't have anything more on Musharraf's
phone call, I guess you probably won't have anything on the phone call
with the Japanese foreign minister. But I do notice that the Japanese
today have announced that they are sending a special envoy to the
Middle East. Is that something that you can say came up in the
conversation with --
MR. REEKER: I think it is something they discussed, yes.
QUESTION: And what did -- and was the Secretary encouraging of this
meeting?
MR. REEKER: I think Secretary Powell has been clear in all his
conversations, that everybody in the international community should do
what they can to encourage both sides to move forward, to consider the
day after, to get into the Tenet process and the Mitchell Committee
recommendations, to get with that road map -- and, of course, most
importantly, to take the steps now to bring down the violence.
QUESTION: And the second thing is that yesterday you were quite
dismissive of the Iraqi threat to use oil as a weapon to pressure the
Israeli -- or pressure the United States to pressure Israel to
withdraw. And you said that you didn't think anyone in the Arab world
took it seriously. I realize the Iranians aren't your greatest
friends, but the Iranians have said that they are willing to consider
--
MR. REEKER: They are not in the Arab world, either, but --
QUESTION: You said leaders in the -- whatever.
MR. REEKER: I don't have anything more on this. I have seen these
reports of that. Again, I don't think it is the focus here. The focus
needs to be on making progress in the Middle East, on getting the
violence down. And that is what we think all countries should be
focused on.
QUESTION: Okay. You're not worried that the Iraqi idea will snowball?
MR. REEKER: I don't think so. As I said yesterday, Iraq needs to focus
on its own compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, and
finally taking a step to work with the international community instead
of constantly being at odds with the rest of the world.
QUESTION: Can I change the subject?
MR. REEKER: I'm sorry, I promised this lady right in front of me --
sorry, Barry.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) Iraq in reference to Iraq and Saddam Hussein
subsidizing the suicide bombers, giving money to their families? There
seems to be more and more suicide families, and the Secretary of
Defense talked about it yesterday.
MR. REEKER: I think we did talk a bit about that once before, and the
Secretary -- you're right, Secretary Rumsfeld talked a bit about that.
I would just refer you to his remarks generally from yesterday. But
for our part, it certainly comes as no surprise to those of you who
cover the State Department that Iran, Iraq, and indeed Syria have been
designated as state sponsors of terrorism for many years because of
their support for international terrorism and groups violently opposed
to the peace process in the Middle East.
We have made very clear that we have had concerns about Iran, their
involvement in the Karine A arms smuggling affair, a matter of grave
concern to us. Iraq, too, has stated its support for suicide bombings,
illustrating Saddam Hussein's opposition to the peace process and his
support for terrorism. And I think Syrian support for Hezbollah has
always been of serious concern to us. And all of that is outlined in
the annual Patterns on Global Terrorism report, and I'm sure will be
discussed in the new Patterns on Global Terrorism report when it comes
out, probably next month.
QUESTION: But to follow that up, do you have any evidence of how much
money is crossing the borders and how these people get the money?
MR. REEKER: I don't have any information like that to share with you.
QUESTION: Phil, I'm sorry (inaudible) question. The -- you know, the
departure, voluntary departure? Do you happen to know how many
dependents -- obviously you don't know how many are going to take the
offer. But do you know how many that offer might apply to?
MR. REEKER: I don't.
QUESTION: Or if you don't, do you know how many Americans there are in
the consulate --
MR. REEKER: I don't.
QUESTION: -- and I'll multiply by three or four.
MR. REEKER: No, I don't, and I wouldn't try to extrapolate numbers
based on that. And it is not the kind of thing we are going to be
sharing. I don't think it is usual security practice to count noses
and snouts, as it were.
QUESTION: I don't get the impression -- because nobody has said it --
that there is any specific new threat directed at Americans or
American installations that prompts this, but the situation generally.
MR. REEKER: I don't think the warning suggests that at all. It says --
in fact, it notes the deteriorating security situation, and informs
travelers of ongoing military activity in the West Bank, something we
discuss here every day. And for that reason, we have decided to give
our personnel the option of sending their dependents out on a
voluntary basis.
QUESTION: Following Judy's question, does the US Government have any
indication that Saudi funds are also being used to pay off suicide
bombers? And on a wider issue, could you update us on the cooperation
of Saudi with cutting off the financing of terrorist networks? And how
much work is that? Is it done on their own, to shut down some of these
groups, whether or not they were groups that the US gave them the
names of?
MR. REEKER: This was a subject that did come up. I think last week we
did a taken question on it. I don't think it is something we posted,
but we checked into it in response to one of your questions. At that
time it had to do with Iran being involved in offering awards and
incentives to the families of suicide bombers.
And we are aware of those charges, and we have been quite clear, as I
already indicated, with our serious concerns about Iranian Government
behavior. And that is why they are listed as a state sponsor of
terrorism.
We are not aware of any Saudi Government financial support to families
of suicide bombers.
QUESTION: And my second question?
MR. REEKER: And your second question was --
QUESTION: The financing, how Saudi cooperation is going?
MR. REEKER: I think we have continued to have very good cooperation,
to be fully satisfied with Saudi Arabia as we work together on the
important financial aspect of the war against terrorism. As you know,
rooting out terrorist finances, cutting off their flows of funding,
seizing bank accounts, is one of the most important tools that we have
in fighting the terrorist threat, and we continue to work very closely
with Saudi Arabia and so many other countries around the world to that
extent.
QUESTION: And have they shut down groups on their own, or as far as we
know, are they only responding to lists given by the US?
MR. REEKER: Again, I will stick with our time-honored tradition of
letting each country describe their own steps and not trying to
describe for you what the Saudis have done from here. I will refer you
to them and let them tell you the steps that they have taken.
QUESTION: To follow up, Phil, you narrowly answered on the information
about -- you don't have any information about the Saudi Government
financing families of terrorists. Do you have any information about
private Saudi individuals or organizations doing it?
MR. REEKER: I don't have anything else to share with you. That was the
answer. I think that was the question before, and that is the answer I
got back.
Yes, ma'am.
QUESTION: My name is Ayse, by the way.
MR. REEKER: Yes, Ayse, thank you.
QUESTION: Two things. The authorized departure, is that for Tel Aviv
only?
MR. REEKER: No, it was for Jerusalem only.
QUESTION: For Jerusalem only. Okay.
MR. REEKER: There was a lot of mistaken information floating around in
the rumor mill and on the wires about this step, but let me just be
clear that this was for our Consulate General in Jerusalem, for the
voluntary authorized departure of family members, of dependents, of
our personnel there.
QUESTION: Okay, the other thing real quick. The UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights Mary Robinson has called for an immediate
fact-finding mission to the Middle East. Is that something that the US
would participate in or support, or even --
MR. REEKER: I wasn't aware of the call, and I have to look into it. I
hadn't seen her remarks in that regard.
QUESTION: I have a related question, but it moves continents. It
appears that the situation in the Middle East has fomented a lot of
Arab anger, especially in Europe, and I am wondering if you have
anything to say about these synagogue attacks in Belgium and France.
MR. REEKER: We are aware of several incidents of anti-Semitic violence
that has taken place in recent days in France and Belgium. These
included the burning of a synagogue in Marseilles and an attack on a
synagogue in a Brussels suburb. Such acts are deplorable. We note that
President Chirac and Prime Minister Jospin and other French Government
officials have publicly condemned these incidents and have announced
plans to deploy police to protect synagogues and Jewish sites around
France. In Belgium, the Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Louis
Michel condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. And we
applaud the fact that both governments are enforcing laws that
prohibit anti-Semitic rhetoric, in the case of France, and violence.
We understand that investigations into these attacks are under way in
both countries.
QUESTION: One second. But you said that you were -- police were
prohibiting anti-Semitic rhetoric? I mean, this is --
MR. REEKER: French authorities are enforcing laws that prohibit
anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence, and we understand that an
investigation of the recent incidents are under way in France.
QUESTION: We support the prohibition of anti-Semitic rhetoric when in
this country we have a First Amendment that would --
MR. REEKER: Eli --
QUESTION: I'm just trying to --
MR. REEKER: I don't want to get into a First Amendment argument with
you, and I don't want to try to discuss French law. You are happy to
go look it up and determine how, under their constitution, and what is
allowed in terms of that type of law. We understand that the
authorities are enforcing those laws and that they are investigating
the incidents that are under way -- or an investigation of the
incidents is under way.
.........
QUESTION: Last night, Senator Mitchell was interviewed again on
Nightline. And he discussed -- made an analogy of how he settled
Northern Ireland with what has gone on in the Middle East. And in our
newspaper coverage this morning, it appears not all, but there is some
incitement to violence by some Islamic clerics. Is there anything that
the State Department can say to some of the religious authorities
elsewhere to -- the same thing that you are saying to Chairman Arafat,
to quell this insurgence in violence?
And also, it also may impinge on some of the hate crimes or groups --
for instance, in Germany and elsewhere -- that have been quelled down
as of recent days, and just gives them a springboard to join in this
violence?
MR. REEKER: I'm not sure of all the connections you have made there.
But in all of our statements, we have talked about Chairman Arafat and
other Palestinian leaders, as well as leaders in the Arab world,
leaders in the Muslim world more broadly, and leaders all across the
world.
QUESTION: I'm not necessarily talking about government leaders. I'm
talking about more --
MR. REEKER: Did I say anything about government leaders, Joel? If you
would let me finish --
QUESTION: Okay.
MR. REEKER: -- I think it's incumbent upon leaders of all types --
including religious figures, including leaders in our societies around
the globe, to speak out against violence, and particularly against
terrorism, which only serves to kill innocent people, to derail the
potential for peace in conflicts around the world, and to undermine
the dreams of so many people, so many societies, the visions that we
have talked about in terms of peace, and particularly in the Middle
East in terms of an Israeli-Palestinian final peace settlement that
allows two countries to live side by side in peace.
So that is very much what we look to. There are many examples of that
around the world. Indeed, in this particular part of the world, you
will recall after September 11th that many religious figures spoke out
against terrorism, condemning that, and noting that carrying out
murderous acts in the name of religion was in fact twisting that
religion, and using that religion in way it was not intended. And that
was something we will continue to speak for, and continue to encourage
others to speak for.
.........
QUESTION: The other was what about the ban on journalists on the West
Bank? Have you made any approaches to Israel with regard to that?
MR. REEKER: I don't know if we brought it up yesterday. I know I had
talked about it with somebody, perhaps after the briefing. We had seen
reports about that, and we were concerned about that. We think it is
important not only to bevery mindful, as I said, to exercise restraint
on the part of the IDF in terms of civilians -- and that would include
journalists -- but they need to also have access.
We saw an incident where an American citizen journalist, one of your
colleagues, was injured. And of course the consulate in Jerusalem was
assisting that journalist. So I don't have anything specific on that.
I think it is something we will continue to watch and look into,
because we have seen reports about some difficulties in access.
QUESTION: Yes. The Jerusalem Consulate General has how many
dependents?
MR. REEKER: It is a number that I told Barry I wasn't going to be
providing, so I won't provide it for you either.
QUESTION: Oh, okay. And this is a voluntary departure, I take it?
MR. REEKER: Yes. This is -- repeat it one more time for everybody --
this is a voluntary, what we call an authorized departure, for
dependents of the personnel, our employees at our Consulate General in
Jerusalem.
QUESTION: And the question from yesterday?
MR. REEKER: And the question you asked yesterday, which was regarding
American citizens detained by the Israeli Government since the current
violence began in the region -- I checked with our Consular Affairs
Bureau. The number of Americans we are aware of who have been arrested
by Israeli authorities since October of 2000 is 40. Of those, 18 are
still in custody. Of course, we have no way of knowing for certain the
numbers of American citizens who may have been detained for short
periods and released. But those are the arrests of American citizens
we are aware of.
(end excerpts)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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