| 00:00:00 | PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPECIAL MIDDLE EAST ENVOY. |
| 00:00:05 | THIS IS HOSTED BY THE ATLANTIC. |
| 00:00:18 | >> JUST TAKE THOSE OPEN SEATS. |
| 00:00:20 | IT WILL WARM MY HEART. |
| 00:00:22 | WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE. |
| 00:00:24 | LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. |
| 00:00:30 | THE ATLANTIC EXCHANGE SERIES IS A NEW PRODUCT OF THE ATLANTIC, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER, CONSEQUENTIAL PEOPLE WITH CONSEQUENTIAL IDEAS. |
| 00:00:40 | WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE ABRAHAM CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE. |
| 00:00:44 | IT IS HIGHLIGHTING THE FOUR-PART SERIES THAT WE HAVE -- IT IS AN IMPORTANT AND A CONSEQUENTIAL LOOK AT THIS ONGOING OLDSTER IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS. |
| 00:00:58 | WE'RE SO -- ONGOING BOLSTERULCER IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS. |
| 00:01:10 | THESE ARE MEANT TO BE INFORMAL, TYPICALLY BEARD. |
| 00:01:16 | WE WILL GET RID OF THE TIES AND JACKETS EVENTUALLY IT AND MAKE IT JEANS AND T-SHIRTS BECAUSE THIS IS A HOT ROOM APPEARED. |
| 00:01:33 | I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DANNY ABRAHAM. |
| 00:01:37 | WAY TO THE CROWD HERE. |
| 00:01:40 | [APPLAUSE] IT IS A REAL HONOR TO HAVE HIM WITH US. |
| 00:01:43 | AND JAMES BENNETT IS BEHIND THE C-SPAN CAMERAS. |
| 00:01:47 | IT IS TERRIFIC TO HAVE C-SPAN WITH US AS WELL. |
| 00:01:50 | AND I ALSO WANT TO PAY RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE JOHN GOULD. |
| 00:01:56 | HE BASICALLY RUNS THE SHOW. |
| 00:02:04 | DRAWN RUNS THEATLANTIC. |
| 00:02:06 | COM CAN HE CAME TO ME AND SAID THAT WE HAVE THIS FOUR-PART SERIES. |
| 00:02:15 | I THEN PROCEEDED TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT TEAM. |
| 00:02:24 | WE PUT TOGETHER TONIGHT'S EVENT. |
| 00:02:27 | THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THIS. |
| 00:02:33 | YOU KNOW THE SEVEN-TERM FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM MINNESOTA AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE NEGOTIATORS. |
| 00:02:45 | OF COURSE, HE IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ABRAHAM CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST. |
| 00:02:53 | THIS IS A DEFINING CHALLENGE FOR HIM AS I THINK IT IS, IN MY VIEW, FOR THE UNITED STATES. |
| 00:02:59 | JEFF GOLDBERG HAS WRITTEN SO MUCH ON THESE ISSUES. |
| 00:03:02 | HE COVERS ALL OF THE TERRAIN. |
| 00:03:03 | I HAVE WRITTEN SOME OFABOUT IT. |
| 00:03:10 | THERE IS HARDLY AN ISSUE THAT DRAWS OUT MORE OF AN ENERGETIC AND VIBE AND SOMETIMES A TOXIC VIBE THAN THIS ISSUE TONIGHT. |
| 00:03:20 | I THINK WE WILL HANDLE IT CREDIBLY AND WITH CIVILITY BUT WITH SERIOUSNESS AND REALLY DRIVE DOWN INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THIS INTO THE FUTURE. |
| 00:03:32 | LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS TONIGHT'S GATHERING. |
| 00:03:36 | WE WILL SHOW A VERY SHORT CLIP. |
| 00:03:59 | >> IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATLANTIC. |
| 00:04:03 | TWO YEARS AGO, I LEFT A JOB THAT I TRULY LOVED IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. |
| 00:04:09 | I DID SO TO JOIN AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN, A MAN WHO IS, IN HIS HEART AND IN EVERY BORNBONE IN HIS BODY, AN AMERICAN PATRIOT. |
| 00:04:29 | HE FOCUSED MUCH OF HIS LIFE ON ONE CORE MISSION, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE MISSION OF THE OUTSTANDING ABRAHAM MIDDLE EAST PEACE, TO RESOLVE THE ISRAELI- PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. |
| 00:04:42 | AND TO DO SO IN TERMS THAT RESPECT BOTH SIDES AND HAVE A DIGNIFIED PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF THE NARRATIVE OF BOTH PEOPLE. |
| 00:04:56 | WHEN I JOINED THE CENTER, OUR TEAM -- AND I WANT TO THANK TONY FOR STANDING AND SARAH BERGMAN. |
| 00:05:05 | I WANT TO THANK JOSH COHEN AND MADELEINE SHATNERSCHNER. |
| 00:05:18 | WITH ALL OF US AT THE CENTER, WHAT WE DESIRED TO DO WAS FILL A VACUUM THAT WE THOUGHT EXISTED HERE AND WASHINGTON AND QUITE FRANKLY THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY. |
| 00:05:30 | THAT IS A SPACE WHERE THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT CAN BE PRESENTED IN AN OBJECTIVE FASHION WHERE THE POSITION OF BOTH THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS CAN BE OUTLINED FROM AN HONEST, FACTUAL POINT OF VIEW. |
| 00:05:49 | ON TOP OF THE PRESENTATION, IN AN OBJECTIVE FASHION, OFFER THE BRIDGING PROPOSALS THAT SOME WELL-INTENTIONED PEOPLE HAVE LAID OUT OVER THE YEARS. |
| 00:06:03 | OUR MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON THOSE FOUR CORE ISSUES -- BORDER SECURITY, REFUGEES, AND JERUSALEM TO SUM IT UP, THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL VIEW. |
| 00:06:14 | WE WILL GO TO UNIVERSITIES. |
| 00:06:17 | WE HAVE SET UP NINE OR 10, STARTING WITH PRINCETON. |
| 00:06:22 | WE WILL GO THROUGH THE NORTHEAST, DOWN THE WEST COAST, AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE COUNTRY. |
| 00:06:30 | WILL GO TO CONGRESS AND SET UP MEETINGS WITH STAFF PEOPLE. |
| 00:06:34 | WE WILL GO TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE VARIETY OF OPINION IN THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY. |
| 00:06:42 | WE WILL TALK WITH RELIGIOUS GROUPS OF ALL KINDS. |
| 00:06:44 | WE WILL TALK WITH GROUPS OF ALL IDEOLOGICAL BACKGROUNDS. |
| 00:06:49 | WITH ALL THAT SAID AND DONE, MY PERSONAL GOAL IS THIS. |
| 00:06:52 | THE NEXT TIME AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT BEARS TO MAKE A SPEECH ON THE MIDDLE EAST -- THEIRS TO MAKE A SPEECH ON THE MIDDLE EAST THAT INCLUDES THE CONFLICT AND THERE'S TO SAY THAT THE BASIS OF NEGOTIATION WILL BE THE 1967 LINE, I WANT A CONSENSUS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO APPLAUD. |
| 00:07:15 | AND I DO NOT WANT THAT PRESIDENT, WHOMEVER SHE OR HE MAY BE, TO BE SUBJECTED TO A FALSE-THAT JUST DOES NOT REFLECT REALITY. |
| 00:07:25 | [APPLAUSE] HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT FROM DANNY'S PERSPECTIVE AND FROM ALL OF US AT THE CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE TO OFFER THIS VERY QUICK OBSERVATION WITH RESPECT TO TONIGHT'S HONORED GUEST, SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL. |
| 00:07:43 | IN THIS TOWN TONIGHT, THERE IS A AVOID, A VOID OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE THE DIGNITY AND THE INTEGRITY THAT ALL OF US EXPECT FROM OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, WHETHER THEY BE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. |
| 00:07:59 | THERE IS TRULY IN FACT ONE MAN WHO, AT EVERY STAGE OF HIS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAREER, HAS EMBODIED THE KIND OF CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY THAT WE ALL EXPECT. |
| 00:08:10 | WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HIM 100% OR 80% -- NO ONE AGREES LESS THAN 80% -- HIS VERY PURPOSEFUL LESSNESS AND THE MISSION THAT HE PROVIDES -- MOST OF WHAT COMES UP IS HONESTY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. |
| 00:08:36 | WITH THAT, WE ARE TRULY INDEBTED TO SENATOR MITCHELL FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO THE ATLANTIC FOR HAVING HIM. |
| 00:08:46 | >> WE WILL SHOW A TWO-MINUTE CLIP. |
| 00:08:49 | IT JUST HAPPENED. |
| 00:08:52 | [VIDEO CLIP] |
| 00:11:40 | (music) >> HERE WE GO. |
| 00:11:45 | [APPLAUSE] I THINK THE NEXT REQUISITION REQUEST IS SURROUND SOUND AND ONE OF THOSE GIANT SCREENS. |
| 00:11:51 | BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. |
| 00:11:52 | WHEN YOU GO ONTO THE WEBSITE, IT IS A TERRIFIC EXPOS SAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR PARTS -- TERRIFIC EXPOS ANDE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR PODS. |
| 00:12:15 | AS ROBERT MENTIONED, ONE OF THE KEY PARTICIPANTS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND GENERALLY THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE IN DEALING WITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN STRESSED THAT CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER IN BASEBALL OR FIRMS, IN THE CONGRESS OR THE SENATE, OR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE, AS KING GEORGE MITCHELL TO SERVE AS THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THIS -- ASKING GEORGE MITCHELL TO SERVE AS THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THIS MISSION. |
| 00:12:45 | JEFFREY GOLDBERG WILL TAKEOVER AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION. |
| 00:12:50 | AFTER THAT, WE WILL OPEN IT TO THE AUDIENCE AND ALL OF YOU. |
| 00:12:53 | IT WILL GET HOTTER. |
| 00:12:55 | AND WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH THAT. |
| 00:12:59 | WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET ME INVITE SENATOR GEORGE MITCHELL. |
| 00:13:07 | [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. |
| 00:13:09 | THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR PRESENCE. |
| 00:13:13 | MY THANKS TO THE ATLANTIC AND TO DAN ABRAHAM AND BOB WEXLER FOR ORGANIZING THIS EVENT. |
| 00:13:21 | DANNY HAS BEEN A FRIEND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. |
| 00:13:24 | HE IS ONE OF THE MOST ARDENT AND PERSISTENT ADVOCATES FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. |
| 00:13:30 | AND I COMMEND HIM FOR THAT ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE. |
| 00:13:34 | I WAS PLEASED WITH SOME RESERVATIONS, WHICH WILL EXPLAIN IN A MOMENT, TO ACCEPT HIS INVITATION TO SPEAK HERE THIS EVENING. |
| 00:13:48 | HE SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR MANY YEARS. |
| 00:13:55 | I KNOW THAT DANNY IS LIKE TO HAVE THEM AS WE ALL ARE. |
| 00:13:59 | I WAS, AT FIRST, RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT DANNY'S INVITATION TO COME HERE. |
| 00:14:09 | I THOUGHT THE ATLANTIC, THE ABRAHAM CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST, PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR LIVES STUDYING THIS ISSUE -- AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEWHAT INTIMIDATED BEING ASKED TO SPEAK AN AUDIENCE IN WHICH ALL OR MOST OF THE MEMBERS KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT AND I DO. |
| 00:14:26 | BUT THEN I REFLECTED ON MY FIRST DAYS IN THE U. |
| 00:14:33 | S. SENATE. I ENTERED THE SENATE UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. |
| 00:14:37 | I WAS SERVING AS A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN MY HOME STATE OF MAINE WHEN ONE OF MAINE'S CENTERS WAS APPOINTED THE SECRETARY OF STATE. |
| 00:14:50 | -- SENATORS WAS APPOINTED THE SECRETARY OF STATE. |
| 00:14:54 | THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION OVER TO THE GOVERNOR WOULD SELECT TO FINISH THAT TERM. |
| 00:15:04 | MY NAME WAS NOT ON THAT LIST. |
| 00:15:07 | I HAD BEEN APPOINTED A FEDERAL JUDGE JUST THE YEAR BEFORE. |
| 00:15:12 | SO NO ONE THOUGHT THAT I WAS BEING CONSIDERED. |
| 00:15:16 | NEITHER DID I. |
| 00:15:18 | . ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE STATE CAPITAL, THE MEDIA WAS FILLED WITH SPECULATION. |
| 00:15:28 | LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I WENT TO BED WONDERING WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD DO THE NEXT DAY. |
| 00:15:34 | LATE THAT EVENING, MY PHONE RANG. |
| 00:15:37 | IT WAS THE GOVERNOR CALLING. |
| 00:15:38 | HE SAID, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME DOWN TO THE STATE CAPITOL TOMORROW NOON SO THAT I CAN ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL POINT YOU TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. |
| 00:15:47 | I SAID, WELL, GEE, GOVERNOR. |
| 00:15:52 | THIS IS A BIG DECISION. |
| 00:15:53 | I HAVE ONLY BEEN A FEDERAL JUDGE FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. |
| 00:15:56 | I NEED TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. |
| 00:15:58 | A NEED TO TALK TO MY FAMILY. |
| 00:16:00 | I NEED TO CONSULT WITH OTHERS. |
| 00:16:02 | HE SAID, I GIVE YOU ONE HOUR. |
| 00:16:05 | [LAUGHTER] WHEN I PROTESTED THAT THE TIME WAS INADEQUATE, HE INSISTED. |
| 00:16:09 | HE SAID, LOOK, WHEN YOU SAY NO, I HAVE TO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE BY TOMORROW NOON. |
| 00:16:17 | IT IS ALREADY LATE AT NIGHT AND I CAN I GIVE YOU MORE THAN ONE HOUR. |
| 00:16:19 | SAW A IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY THREE OLDER BROTHERS. |
| 00:16:23 | -- SO I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY THREE OLDER BROTHERS. |
| 00:16:26 | I HAVE THREE OLDER BROTHERS WHO ARE VERY FAMOUS ATHLETES. |
| 00:16:30 | THEY ARE KNOWN EXTREMELY WELL, NOT JUST IN A SMALL TOWN, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SHORTLY THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND. |
| 00:16:39 | I WAS NOT AS GOOD AS MY BROTHERS AS AN ATHLETE. |
| 00:16:47 | IN FACT, I WAS NOT AS GOOD AS ANYBODY'S BROTHER. |
| 00:16:52 | [LAUGHTER] I WAS SOON KNOWN AS JONI MITCHELL'S KID BROTHER, THE ONE THAT WAS NOT ANY GOOD. |
| 00:16:58 | SO I ALREADY HAD AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX AND A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE ATTITUDE THAT PERSIST TO THIS DAY. |
| 00:17:06 | MANY YEARS LATER, NOW A GROWN MAN, I HUNG UP THE PHONE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND I CALLED MY BROTHERS. |
| 00:17:14 | OSTENSIBLY TO SEEK THEIR ADVICE. |
| 00:17:20 | [LAUGHTER] BUT I CONFESS THAT THERE WAS A NOTE OF -- WHEN I INFORMED THEM THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD CALLED AND WANTED TO APPOINT ME TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. |
| 00:17:40 | I SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? |
| 00:17:43 | I'D RATHER SAID, JOHN, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT YOU WERE A BORN LOSER. |
| 00:17:48 | NOBODY KNOWS HOW YOU BECAME A FEDERAL JUDGE. |
| 00:17:54 | YOU CERTAINLY COULD NOT WIN A STATE ELECTION SO YOU BETTER STAY WHERE YOU ARE. |
| 00:18:00 | I'D RATHER TONY SAID LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW -- MY BROTHER TONY SAID LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PEOPLE OF MAINE. |
| 00:18:10 | IS IT NOT OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE NOT AMONG THEM. |
| 00:18:15 | AFTER THIS, I HUNG UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THE GOVERNOR. |
| 00:18:19 | I SAID, GOVERNOR, I DO NOT NEED AN HOUR. |
| 00:18:22 | I ALREADY HAVE ALL THE REASSURANCE I KNEES IN MY ABILITY TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION AND I ACCEPTED AND I WENT DOWN TO THE STATE CAPITAL OF THE NEXT DAY. |
| 00:18:35 | THE IT -- THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT AND I GOT ON AN AIRPLANE AND FLEW TO WASHINGTON. |
| 00:18:39 | I WENT UP TO THE SENATE AND I WAS SWORN IN. |
| 00:18:42 | THE CEREMONY TOOK ABOUT 10 SECONDS. |
| 00:18:45 | IF YOU TURNED ASIDE, YOU MISSED IT. |
| 00:18:49 | AS SOON AS I WAS SWORN IN, A YOUNG MAN CAME UP TO ME AND INTRODUCED THEMSELVES AS SENATOR MUSKIE'S FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND NOW HE WAS MINE. |
| 00:19:01 | HE READ OFF A LIST OF THINGS THAT I WAS TO DO FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT DAY. |
| 00:19:06 | THEN HE SAID WE HAVE A VERY INTERESTING INVITATION FOR YOU. |
| 00:19:10 | I SAID, WHAT IS IT? |
| 00:19:11 | HE SAID, THERE ARE 3000 CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS MEETING IN WASHINGTON. |
| 00:19:17 | THEY JUST CALLED AND ASKED IF YOU COME DOWN TO THE WASHINGTON HOTEL AND SPEAK AT THEIR ANNUAL CONVENTION AND DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS TONIGHT. |
| 00:19:27 | I SAID, GOSH, THAT IS AMAZING. |
| 00:19:31 | UNTIL YESTERDAY, I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD BE HERE. |
| 00:19:34 | HOW THESE GUYS HAD THE FORESIGHT TO HOLD THIS POSITION OPEN FOR ME -- THEY HAD FOUR LAST MINUTE CANCELLATIONS. |
| 00:19:45 | THEY HEARD SOMEONE WAS SWEARING IN AND THEY FELT THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO TONIGHT. |
| 00:19:53 | I SAID, OK, WHAT DO THEY WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT. |
| 00:19:56 | HE SAID, THE TAX CODE. |
| 00:20:00 | HEI SAID, YOU WANT ME TO TELL 3000 CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS WHAT IS IN THE TAX CODE? |
| 00:20:07 | I CAN DO THAT. |
| 00:20:08 | AND THIS YOUNG MAN LOOKED AT ME AND WITH A VOICE DRIPPING WITH SARCASM AND CONDESCENSION SAID, YOU ARE NOW UNITED STATES SENATOR. |
| 00:20:18 | YOU WILL REGULARLY BE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC ON SUBJECT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. |
| 00:20:26 | SO IF YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD SENATOR, YOU BETTER GET STARTED RIGHT NOW. |
| 00:20:30 | [LAUGHTER] GET DOWN THERE TONIGHT AND TELL THOSE 3000 CPA'S WHAT IS IN THE TAX CODE. |
| 00:20:37 | SO I WENT DOWN THERE AND TOLD THEM WHAT IS IN THE TAX CODE. |
| 00:20:39 | AND HERE I AM TONIGHT TO TELL ALL OF YOU EXPERTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. |
| 00:20:52 | [APPLAUSE] >> I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ENJOY IT UNTIL I GET SOME QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW. |
| 00:20:59 | [LAUGHTER] BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE SOME REMARKS. |
| 00:21:02 | I WAS TOLD I WAS LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES. |
| 00:21:06 | THAT IS TOUGH FOR A FORMER U. |
| 00:21:08 | S. SENATOR. THE SENATE HAS A RULE OF UNLIMITED DEBATE. |
| 00:21:12 | AS A CONSEQUENCE, AFTER MANY YEARS THERE, INCLUDING SEVERAL YEARS AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, HAVE DEVELOPED THE DUBIOUS ABILITY AND SKILL TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN INDEFINITE LENGTH ON ANY SUBJECT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. |
| 00:21:32 | EITHER POSSESSING OR CONVEYING ANY KNOWLEDGE. |
| 00:21:37 | I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL THE BLANKS IN ANY SPEAKING PROGRAM THAT HAS EXISTED IN WASHINGTON FOR MANY YEARS. |
| 00:21:42 | I WILL LET DO THAT TONIGHT. |
| 00:21:44 | I WILL TRY TO STICK TO THE TIME LIMIT IMPOSED ON ME. |
| 00:21:48 | BUT, OF NECESSITY THEREFORE, I CAN ONLY SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THE SUBJECT AND IN A GENERAL WAY. |
| 00:21:56 | THERE WILL BE MANY SUBJECTS THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU, BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COVER THEM IN THESE FEW COMMENTS. |
| 00:22:03 | BUT I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS LETTER FROM YOU AND FROM THE MODERATORS. |
| 00:22:08 | BUT THERE ARE A FEW THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS DIRECTLY. |
| 00:22:14 | AND THAT IS THE REASON ASKED TO SAY A FEW WORDS AT THE OUTSET. |
| 00:22:21 | AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CONFLICT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN HISTORY. |
| 00:22:25 | IT INVOLVES A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL ISSUES, RELIGION, NATIONAL IDENTITY, TERRITORIAL COMPETITION. |
| 00:22:34 | RIGHT NOW, PESSIMISM IS WIDESPREAD. |
| 00:22:38 | THERE ARE MANY, MANY REASONS FOR ALL OF US TO BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESS. |
| 00:22:45 | THE CONFLICT HAS GONE ON FOR SO LONG. |
| 00:22:49 | IT HAS HAD SUCH DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS. |
| 00:22:54 | THE LEVEL OF DISTRUST AND HOSTILITY ON BOTH SIDES IS SO HIGH THAT MANY AND PERHAPS MOST HERE IN OUR COUNTRY AND ELSEWHERE REGARD IT AS AN UNSOLVABLE. |
| 00:23:06 | BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PURSUIT OF PEACE IS SO IMPORTANT. |
| 00:23:09 | IT DEMANDS OUR MAXIMUM EFFORT, NO MATTER THE DIFFICULTIES, NO MATTER THE SETBACKS. |
| 00:23:17 | THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS REALLY EASY TO STATE. |
| 00:23:24 | BUT EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. |
| 00:23:27 | IT IS THE MUTUAL COMMITMENT OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS IN THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE OF MANY OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS WHO CAN AND WANT TO HELP. |
| 00:23:41 | THEY MUST ADDRESS THE TASK, WHICH IS TO RECONCILE THE PALESTINIAN GOAL OF A VIABLE, CONTIGUOUS, SOVEREIGN, AND INDEPENDENT STATE BASED ON THE 1967 LINES WITH AGREED SWAPS. |
| 00:23:59 | AND THE ISRAELI BOWL OF A JEWISH STATE WITH SECURE, RECOGNIZED, AND DEFENSIBLE BORDERS. |
| 00:24:07 | THAT SHOULD NOT BE BEYOND THE ABILITY OF POLITICAL LEADERS IF THEY HAVE THE WILL TO DO IT. |
| 00:24:17 | IN JANUARY 2009, JUST BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, PRESIDENT BUSH SPOKE IN JERUSALEM. |
| 00:24:27 | HE SAID, "THE POINTED DEPARTURE FOR PERMANENT STATUS NEGOTIATIONS IS CLEAR. |
| 00:24:38 | THERE SHOULD BE AN END TO THE OCCUPATION THAT BEGAN IN 1967. |
| 00:24:45 | THE AGREEMENT MUST ESTABLISH PALESTINE AS A HOMELAND FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE JUST AS ISRAEL IS A HOMELAND FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE. |
| 00:24:55 | THESE NEGOTIATIONS MUST ENSURE THAT ISRAEL HAS SECURE, RECOGNIZED, AND DEFENSIBLE BORDERS AND THEY MUST ENSURE THAT THE STATE OF PALESTINE IS VIABLE, CONTIGUOUS, SOVRAN, AND INDEPENDENT -- SOVEREIGN, AND INDEPENDENT. |
| 00:25:15 | IT IS IMPORTED THAT EACH SIDE UNDERSTANDS THAT SATISFY THE OTHERS FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL AGREEMENT. |
| 00:25:24 | SECURITY FOR ISRAEL AND LIABILITY FOR THE PALESTINIAN STATE ARE IN THE MUTUAL -- AND THE VIABILITY FOR THE PALESTINIAN STATE ARE IN THE MUTUAL INTEREST. |
| 00:25:37 | " STATED ANOTHER WAY, NEITHER ISRAEL NOR THE PALESTINIANS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES BY DENYING TO THE OTHER ITS PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES. |
| 00:25:56 | THE PALESTINIANS WILL NOT GET A STATE UNTIL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE A REASONABLE AND A SUSTAINABLE DEGREE OF SECURITY. |
| 00:26:09 | BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN GET THAT UNLESS AND UNTIL THE PALESTINIANS GET A STATE. |
| 00:26:16 | THERE ARE RISKS TO ALL COURSES OF ACTION. |
| 00:26:21 | THERE IS NO COURSE THAT EITHER SIDE CAN TAKE WHICH IS FULLY ASSURED OF SUCCESS. |
| 00:26:30 | SO THE QUESTION IS ONE OF MEASURING POSSIBLE BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL RISKS. |
| 00:26:39 | WHEN TAKING OFFICE IN 2009, PRESIDENT OBAMA PUBLICLY REAFFIRMED THE POLICY THAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAD SET FORTH. |
| 00:26:50 | IT SEEMED THEN, IN EARLY 2009, THAT THE CULTURE OF PEACE, WHICH HAD BEEN SO CAREFULLY NURTURED DURING THE OSLO PROCESS, HAD LARGELY DISSIPATED. |
| 00:27:01 | IT WAS REPLACED BY A SENSE OF FUTILITY, OF DESPAIR, OF THE INEVITABILITY OF CONFLICT. |
| 00:27:10 | THE FIGHTING IN GAZA HAD JUST ENDED. |
| 00:27:13 | THE PALESTINIANS WERE DEEPLY DIVIDED. |
| 00:27:16 | AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE ISRAELI ELECTIONS LAY JUST AHEAD. |
| 00:27:22 | FEW THEM BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS ANY CHANCE AT RESTARTING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, LET ALONE ACHIEVE ANY PEACEFUL END TO THE CONFLICT. |
| 00:27:32 | UNFORTUNATELY, THREE YEARS LATER, THAT REMAINS LARGELY THE CASE. |
| 00:27:39 | A SOLUTION CANNOT BE IMPOSED EXTERNALLY. |
| 00:27:43 | THE PARTIES THEMSELVES MUST NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE ACTIVE AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES. |
| 00:27:54 | THIS WILL REQUIRE OF THEM COMPROMISE AND FLEXIBILITY AND, MOST OF ALL, IT WILL REQUIRE LEADERSHIP. |
| 00:28:03 | THE QUARTET IS NOW TRYING TO GET ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. |
| 00:28:11 | THE RECENT MEETING IN JORDAN SPONSORED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN COORDINATION WITH THE QUARTET REPRESENT A STEP IN THE -- A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. |
| 00:28:20 | THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE THOSE MEETINGS AND WE, IN THE UNITED STATES, SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO FACILITATE A CONTINUING AND MEANINGFUL DIRECT EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AMONG THE PARTIES. |
| 00:28:34 | AS DIFFICULT AS IT SEEMS -- AND I AM NOW RESPONDED TO THE QUESTION RAISED IN THE VIDEO -- I STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS CONFLICT CAN BE ENDED. |
| 00:28:46 | I BELIEVE THAT, IN PART, WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WILL BE ENORMOUS POLITICAL PAIN ON BOTH SIDES FROM NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT, THAT PAIN WILL IN FACT BE MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THEY WILL ENDURE IF THEY DO NOT NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT. |
| 00:29:13 | IT IS A LONG WHILE THAT HAS CREATED A FALSE SENSE OF COMFORT AND SECURITY. |
| 00:29:19 | BUT IF HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE, THAT WILL NOT LAST. |
| 00:29:24 | AND IF THE CONFLICT RESUMES AND CONTINUES, BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS COULD FACE A FUTURE FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY. |
| 00:29:34 | THAT INCLUDES, OF COURSE, THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEWED VIOLENCE. |
| 00:29:43 | THERE ARE OTHER DANGERS. |
| 00:29:45 | LET ME MENTION JUST A FEW OF THEM. |
| 00:29:50 | FOR THE ISRAELIS, DEMOGRAPHY -- THERE ARE NOW BETWEEN FIVE POINTS AND 5 MILLION AND 6 MILLION JEWS LIVING BETWEEN THE JORDAN RIVER AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. |
| 00:30:16 | OVERALL, THE ARAB BIRTHRATE IS MUCH HIGHER AND, WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THEY WILL BE IN THE MAJORITY. |
| 00:30:25 | SOME DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTIONS PUBLISHED JUST YESTERDAY SUGGEST THAT THE POPULATIONS WILL BE ABOUT EQUAL IN 2015. |
| 00:30:33 | AND BY THE YEAR 2020, THERE WILL BE NEARLY HALF A MILLION MORE ARABS THAN JEWS IN THAT REGION. |
| 00:30:43 | ISRAEL WILL THEN HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING A JEWISH STATE AND A DEMOCRATIC STATE. |
| 00:30:49 | IT CANNOT BE BOTH ONCE THE TO- STATE SOLUTION IS LOST. |
| 00:30:55 | THAT IS A PAINFUL CHOICE THAT THE PEOPLE OF BRAZIL -- PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE. |
| 00:31:06 | THE BARRIER WAS BUILT AND HAS LARGELY SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING SUICIDE BOMBERS OUT. |
| 00:31:11 | BUT THE REAL THREAT TO ISRAEL NOW COMES FROM MARKETS. |
| 00:31:16 | HOW MOSS HAS THOUSANDS. |
| 00:31:17 | THEY ARE CRUDE -- NOW COME FROM ROCKETS. |
| 00:31:30 | HOWAMAS HAS THOUSANDS. |
| 00:31:31 | THEY ARE CRUDE AND THEY ARE DANGERS. |
| 00:31:35 | OVER TIME, THEY COULD BUILD MORE AND BETTER ROCKETS. |
| 00:31:40 | HEZBOLLAH HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM. |
| 00:31:43 | THERE ARE MORE EFFECTIVE, ALTHOUGH ALSO LIMITED IN RANGE. |
| 00:31:47 | HEZBOLLAH IS ENGAGED IN AN EFFORT TO UPGRADE THEIR SYSTEMS WITH GREATER ACCURACY AND MORE DESTRUCTIVE POWER. |
| 00:31:55 | FINALLY, AND PERHAPS MOST DANGEROUSLY, IRAN NOW HAS ROCKETS THAT CAN REACH ISRAEL WHEN LAUNCHED FROM IRAN ITSELF. |
| 00:32:04 | THEY DO NOT YET HAVE THE PRECISION NEEDED TO STRIKE SPECIFIC MILITARY TARGETS. |
| 00:32:10 | BUT THEY COULD CAUSE ENORMOUS DESTRUCTION IN CITIES. |
| 00:32:14 | THE UNITED STATES IS FULLY COMMITTED TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY. |
| 00:32:20 | AND THAT COMMITMENT IS FIRM AND UNSHAKEABLE. |
| 00:32:24 | IT HAS CONTINUED FOR 60 YEARS AND WILL GO ON WHAT EVER THE ADMINISTRATION IN OUR COUNTRY. |
| 00:32:31 | TO HONOR IT, WE HAVE PROVIDED ENORMOUS FINANCIAL AND MILITARY SUPPORT TO ISRAEL AND, MOST RECENTLY, WE HAVE ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM. |
| 00:32:42 | JUST LAST WEEK, THE U. |
| 00:32:44 | S. AND ISRAEL ANNOUNCED THE LARGEST EVER JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES FOCUSED ON MISSILE DEFENSE. |
| 00:32:49 | BUT IT IS UNKNOWN AND IT WILL BE NEVER KNOWN UNTIL THE EVENT ITSELF, WHETHER THAT OR ANY SYSTEM COULD INTERCEPT THE POTENTIALLY LARGE NUMBER OF MISSILES THAT COULD BE LAUNCHED IN AN ALL-OUT CONFLICT. |
| 00:33:07 | THUS, ISRAEL'S VERY EXISTENCE COULD BE AT RISK AND COULD FACE SEVERE DAMAGE. |
| 00:33:16 | THE THIRD RISK IS IN ISOLATION. |
| 00:33:22 | ISRAEL'S SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES IS VERY STRONG. |
| 00:33:25 | BUT IT IS DECLINING ELSEWHERE. |
| 00:33:27 | A SHORT TIME AGO, ISRAEL HAD GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY AND EGYPT. |
| 00:33:32 | BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY HAS DETERIORATED AND WITH EGYPT, IT IS THREATENED. |
| 00:33:38 | OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS IN RECENT YEARS WITH A VERY LOPSIDED VOTE ON THESE ISSUES. |
| 00:33:49 | LET ME CONCLUDE WITH A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE PALESTINIANS WHO ALSO FACE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. |
| 00:33:57 | NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE INDEFINITE CONTINUATION OF THE OCCUPATION UNDER WHICH THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THEMSELVES FOR MANY, MANY DECADES. |
| 00:34:11 | IN 1948, THE UNITED NATIONS PROPOSED A PLAN TO PETITION THE AREA AND CREATE TWO STATES. |
| 00:34:18 | ISRAEL ACCEPTED IT. |
| 00:34:20 | THE ARABS REJECTED IT. |
| 00:34:22 | AND THE FIRST OF SEVERAL WARS BEGAN, ALL OF THEM ONE BY AN INCREASINGLY STRONG ISRAEL. |
| 00:34:30 | -- ALL OF THEM WON BY AN INCREASINGLY STRONG ISRAEL. |
| 00:34:35 | EVERY ARAB LEADER TODAY WOULD GLADLY ACCEPT THAT 1948 PLAN IF IT WERE STILL AVAILABLE. |
| 00:34:42 | BUT IT IS NOT STILL AVAILABLE. |
| 00:34:45 | AND NEVER AGAIN WILL BE. |
| 00:34:48 | SINCE THEN, THE PLANS OFFERED TO THE PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN LESS ATTRACTIVE AND THEY HAVE BEEN REJECTED AS WELL. |
| 00:34:58 | I TOLD BOTH CHAIRMAN ARAFAT AND PRESIDENT OF ABASS DIRECTLY THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE OFFERS WILL GET ANY BETTER IN THE FUTURE. |
| 00:35:16 | TO THE CONTRARY, ALL OF THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. |
| 00:35:24 | THEY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS AND GET THE BEST DEAL THEY CAN, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT 100% OF WHAT THEY WANT. |
| 00:35:37 | THEY HAVE TO BRING THE OCCUPATION TO AN END AND GET THEIR OWN STATE AND THEN BUILD ON IT AS ISRAEL HAS DONE SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED. |
| 00:35:47 | UNDER THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP OF PRIME MINISTER FIGHT YET, PALESTINIANS HAVE -- PRIME MINISTER FAYAD, PALESTINIANS HAVE DEMONSTRATED IT THEY CAN DO IT. |
| 00:36:02 | UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE THE STATE- BUILDING EFFORT MUST CONTINUE, IT CANNOT BE SUSTAINED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY PROGRESS ON THE POLITICAL SIDE. |
| 00:36:11 | THEY ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED. |
| 00:36:14 | IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE PROGRESS ON ONE, THERE MUST BE PROGRESS ON BOTH. |
| 00:36:19 | IT IS A DAUNTING CHALLENGE TO REBUILD TRUST, NOT ONLY BETWEEN THE POLITICAL LEADERS, BUT BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLES THROUGH LONG AND BITTER HISTORY OF CONFLICT. |
| 00:36:31 | THEY MUST FIND A WAY TO DO IT, TO RENEW HOPE, TO CONTINUE THE SEARCH FOR PEACE AND WE MUST PERSEVERE IN HELPING THEM. |
| 00:36:39 | THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. |
| 00:36:42 | AND I WILL BE PLEASED NOW TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. |
| 00:36:46 | [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, SIR. |
| 00:38:04 | [INAUDIBLE] >> LET ME START BY THANKING THE ORIGINAL 1 >> THE MICROPHONE -- LET ME START BY THANKING -- >> THE MICROPHONE. |
| 00:38:17 | >> THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO CONVENE THIS. |
| 00:38:20 | STEVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW, IS ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON WHO CAN GET A PACK AND THE CENTER FOR WASHINGTON IN THE SAME ROOM. |
| 00:38:30 | ALSO CALLED, AS THEY SAY. |
| 00:38:34 | -- MOSCOW COUGHLET ME START SOMEWHAT NARROWLY AND THEN BROUGHT IN AND OUT AS WE GO. |
| 00:38:42 | LET ME START WITH A COUPLE OF EVENTS RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR TENURE AS ON THE BOYENVOY. |
| 00:38:53 | START WITH ANNAPOLIS. |
| 00:38:57 | CONDOLEEZZA RICE IN HER LATEST BOOK SUGGESTED THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY, THAT THE PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL PUT A REMARKABLY EXPENSIVE OFFER BEFORE THE PALESTINIANS AND THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION COULD HAVE BUILT ON THAT. |
| 00:39:18 | INSTEAD, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RESET THE CLOCK, ERASED THE PAST, AND DEMANDED A SETTLEMENT FREEZE. |
| 00:39:26 | WHY HAPPENED? |
| 00:39:27 | WHY DID ANNAPOLIS FALL AWAY? |
| 00:39:29 | WHY DID THAT OFFER COMPLETELY FALL AWAY? |
| 00:39:32 | >> IT IS A MATTER OF WELL- ESTABLISHED PUBLIC RECORD. |
| 00:39:38 | I WENT TO THE REGION JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. |
| 00:39:42 | IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE ISRAELI ELECTION CAMPAIGN, WHICH HAVE BEEN FED PUREED 10, 2009. |
| 00:39:51 | ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION, OLMERT MADE PUBLIC THE DETAILS OF THE OFFER THAT HE HAD MADE DURING THE ANNAPOLIS PROCESS IN HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH ABASS. |
| 00:40:09 | IMMEDIATELY, THE MAJOR CANDIDATES TO SUCCEED OLMERT, NOW PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND THE PREVIOUS FOUR AND MINISTER, REJECTED OLMERT'S PROPOSAL. |
| 00:40:25 | AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID PUBLICLY SEVERAL TIMES AND PRIVATELY THAT HE DID NOT AGREE WITH OLMERT'S PROPOSAL, WAS NOT BOUND BY THEM, REJECTED THEM COMPLETELY, AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEM AS THE BASIS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. |
| 00:40:48 | HE TOLD ME THAT PERSONALLY, DIRECTLY. |
| 00:40:54 | HE SAID IT PUBLICLY IN NUMEROUS NEWSPAPER ARTICLES THAT REPORTED THAT. |
| 00:41:02 | YOU CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION. |
| 00:41:08 | BUT THERE CAN BE NO DISPUTE ABOUT FAT THAT HE HAS BEEN TOTALLY CONSENT -- ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAS BEEN TOTALLY CONSISTENTLY, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY, IN A POSITION AND THAT REMAINS THE POSITION OF HIS GOVERNMENT TO THIS DAY. |
| 00:41:25 | SO THE SUGGESTION, THE STATEMENT MADE NOT JUST BY FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE RICE, BUT MANY OTHERS, COLUMNISTS AND OTHERS, THAT SOMEHOW OBAMA SIMPLY IGNORED THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY IS INCORRECT. |
| 00:41:42 | I DISCUSSED IT WITH THEM. |
| 00:41:44 | AND IT WAS REJECTED. |
| 00:41:46 | IT IS A MATTER PUBLIC RECORD. |
| 00:41:48 | IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PURSUE, TO PICK UP THE NEGOTIATIONS WHERE THEY LEFT OFF AS PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEM PIERRE >> THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST PERPLEXING EPISODES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. |
| 00:42:05 | A DEMAND WAS MADE TO FREEZE SETTLEMENT. |
| 00:42:07 | BUT THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THE MOMENT WHEN NETANYAHU REJECTED THE DEMAND FOR SETTLEMENT. |
| 00:42:15 | THERE WAS A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM, BUT THE ISRAELIS NEVER MET THE U. |
| 00:42:21 | S. DEMAND. YOU, AT ONE POINT, HINTED THAT THERE WOULD BE OR CONCEIVABLY COULD BE PUNISHMENT FOR NOT ADHERING TO THAT DEMAND. |
| 00:42:29 | YOU BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF LOAN GUARANTEES. |
| 00:42:31 | BUT IMMEDIATELY THE STATE DEPARTMENT BACKED AWAY FROM THAT. |
| 00:42:36 | SO WHY DID THE ADMINISTRATION BILL IN PUBLICLY WITH A DEMAND WITHOUT HAVING A PLAN B WHEN NETANYAHU COULD NOT FULFIL THAT? |
| 00:42:45 | AND THE LET ME ADD ONE THING ONTO THAT. |
| 00:42:47 | WHY WERE THE SETTLEMENT TREATED WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE LIMITATIONS OF NETANYAHU BEES OF THE THAT DEMAND? |
| 00:42:56 | -- OF NETANYAHU VIS A VIS THAT DEMAND? |
| 00:43:03 | >> LET ME CORRECT YOUR INTERPRETATION OF MY STATEMENT. |
| 00:43:11 | THE ONLY STATEMENT I MADE WAS ON CHARLIE ROSE. |
| 00:43:14 | HE ASKED ME, IF THERE WAS ANY THING THE UNITED STATES COULD DO LEGALLY. |
| 00:43:25 | I DO NOT FAVOR SUCH A COURSE OF ACTION. |
| 00:43:29 | >> THE STATE DEPARTMENT DID COME BACK AND SAY THAT HE DID NOT FAVOR THAT COURSE OF ACTION. |
| 00:43:38 | >> NO. |
| 00:43:39 | MY POSITION WAS THAT I DO NOT FAVOR THAT. |
| 00:43:42 | AND SO TRYING HARD TO RESPOND EARNESTLY TO A JOURNALIST'S QUESTION, I ANSWERED THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STATE OF BILL WALSH AND THEN I MADE CLEAR THAT I -- ABOUT THE STATE OF LAW AND THEN I MADE CLEAR THAT I DID NOT SUPPORT IT. |
| 00:43:59 | FIRST, A SETTLEMENT FREEZE -- EVERY AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1967, PRESIDENT, SECRETARY OF STATE, ADMINISTRATION -- THEY HAVE OPPOSED THE POLICY AND THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL WITH RESPECT TO SETTLEMENTS. |
| 00:44:23 | EVERY REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION AND EVERY DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION. |
| 00:44:27 | IN THE ROAD MAP PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT BUSH, THERE IS AN EXPRESSIVE REFERENCE TO A FULL SETTLEMENT FREEZE. |
| 00:44:37 | SO PRESIDENT OBAMA PROPOSING A SETTLEMENT FREEZE WAS NOT PROPOSING ANYTHING NEW. |
| 00:44:44 | IT WAS A POSITION TAKEN BY EVERY PRIOR AMERICAN PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, OVER THE PRECEDING 40 YEARS. |
| 00:44:59 | SECONDLY, THE REAL MISTAKE THAT WE MADE AND FOR WHICH WE BEAR RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT WE DID NOT MAKE CLEAR THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS ONE IN ISOLATION TO THE ISRAELIS AS OPPOSED TO THE CONTEXT OF A REQUEST MADE IN ALL THREE PARTIES THAT WERE MADE BY THE SAME TIME -- THE ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS, AND THE OTHER ARABS. |
| 00:45:36 | WE DID NOT MAKE CLEAR THAT NONE OF THOSE WERE PRECONDITIONS TO NEGOTIATIONS, BUT WERE IN FACT AN EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH NEGOTIATIONS COULD OCCUR AND HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE FOR SUCCESS. |
| 00:45:51 | RECALL IF YOU WILL, AS I SAID IN MY REMARKS, THE GAUZE THE CONFLICT HAD JUST ENDED. |
| 00:45:58 | EMOTIONS WERE EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. |
| 00:46:02 | I TRAVELLED THROUGHOUT THE REGION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU TOOK OFFICE. |
| 00:46:08 | I MET WITH LEADERS OF 14 ARAB COUNTRIES. |
| 00:46:12 | ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THERE SINGULAR DEMAND MADE RIGHT AT THE OUTSET AND WITH GREAT EMPHASIS WAS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A SETTLEMENT FREEZE BEFORE THERE CAN BE ANY CONSIDERATION OF DISCUSSIONS. |
| 00:46:26 | THINK ABOUT IT IF YOU WILL WHAT THE REACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN IF PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN PRESIDENT NOT TO FAVOR A SETTLEMENT FREEZE. |
| 00:46:38 | >> THE QUESTION -- >> LET ME FINISH MY ANSWER. |
| 00:46:44 | WE PROPOSED THIS. |
| 00:46:45 | WE MADE DEMANDS OF THE ARABS. |
| 00:46:47 | THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT THE ARABS WERE PROUD OF THE ARAB PEACE INITIATIVE. |
| 00:46:51 | HE MENTIONED IT IN HIS REMARKS WHEN I WAS APPOINTED. |
| 00:46:54 | AND IT PROVIDES THAT, AT THE END OF SEAT -- AND OF THE SERIES OF EVENTS, THERE WOULD BE FORMERAL RELATIONSHIP. |
| 00:47:14 | THE REQUEST WAS TO MAKE STEPS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE ISRAELIS WOULD HAVE A FREEZE AND THE ERRORS WERE TAKING THE APPROPRIATE STEPS. |
| 00:47:30 | WE DID NOT GET THE RESULT WE WANTED. |
| 00:47:32 | WE DID GET A 10-MONTH -- I DO NOT WANT TO CALL IT A FREEZE -- A 10-MONTH MORATORIUM ON NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON THE WEST BANK. |
| 00:47:47 | IT WAS LESS THAN WHAT WE ASKED FOR, LESS THAN WHAT THE PALESTINIANS WANTED, BUT WAS MORE THAN ANY GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL HAD DONE ON THAT SUBJECT. |
| 00:47:58 | AND IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT ACTION, WHICH I BELIEVE THE PALESTINIANS SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO BY GETTING INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS EARLIER. |
| 00:48:07 | >> I AM STILL CONFUSED. |
| 00:48:09 | MOAHMOUD A LOSSABBAS SAID THAT IT WAS OBAMA THAT REQUESTED A SETTLEMENT FREEZE. |
| 00:48:25 | WHY WAS HE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SETTLEMENT FREEZE WAS A PRECONDITION? |
| 00:48:30 | WHY HAS HE REACTED THE WAY HE HAS? |
| 00:48:33 | >> THE STATEMENT WAS MADE IN 2011. |
| 00:48:38 | IT WAS AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT OCCURRED IN 2009. |
| 00:48:44 | IT WAS A MISTAKE IN RECOLLECTION OF WHAT OCCURRED. |
| 00:48:48 | WHEN I WENT OVER TO THE REGION IN JANUARY, SAID EUROPE, AND MARCH 2009, -- JANUARY, FED YORK, AND MARCH 2009, I MET WITH -- JANUARY , FEBRUARY, AND |
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