Hillary Clinton’s Mid-East Charm Offensive: Remarks Before Her Meeting With Netanyahu

Well, the State Department is not issuing a public schedule, evidently, but despite the holiday, as the Army anthem goes, affairs of State and the duties of the Secretary of State keep rolling along without respite. As readers here are aware, Mme. Secretary spent the morning in what is being reported as a "crunch meeting" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Clinton, Israeli PM to meet amid settlement row

by Ron Bousso Ron Bousso Thu Nov 11, 7:46 am ET

NEW YORK (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday as new strains between the two allies over Jewish settlements cloud hopes for further peace talks.

Ahead of the meeting, President Barack Obama and Clinton led global criticism of Israel's latest plans to build 1,300 houses in occupied east Jerusalem, where the Palestinian wish to form the capital of their future state.

Read the article>>>>>

In that the State Department communications nerve center never shuts down and routinely issues communiques over weekends, I would expect that the holiday should not prevent a press release about the results of this meeting in a timely fashion. Should that be the case, the information will be posted on this blog.

Meanwhile, we have are these images to fathom the tenor of this meeting as it got off to its start this morning. From the looks of things, Mme. Secretary was mounting another of her often successful "charm offensives." She looks so optimistic and cheerful. Behind closed doors, however, my guess is that, while probably never turning off the 1000 watt smile, she added a layer of toughness. Her statement in her teleconference with Palestinian PM Fayyad yesterday was our stance in a nutshell. Big bright smile notwithstanding... here is what she said.

Before I address the subject of my announcement today, I want to also address what I know is on the minds of many of you. The United States was deeply disappointed by the announcement of advanced planning for new housing units in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem. This announcement was counterproductive to our efforts to resume negotiations between the parties.

**UPDATE** The State Department did issue their remarks. See below the slideshow.

Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Before Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Regency Hotel

New York City

November 11, 2010

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QUESTION: Madam Secretary, can I ask you a small question (inaudible)?

SECRETARY CLINTON: A small question? (Laughter.)

QUESTION: A little one.

SECRETARY CLINTON: A little one.

QUESTION: Why would you – why do you think the building in Jerusalem is counterproductive if it has been going on for more than 40 years now?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we’re going to be talking about everything and I will save my comments beyond what I’ve already said to talk to the prime minister. I’m very pleased to be here and to have this opportunity to discuss with him how we’re going to move forward in the process.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Well, I’m very happy that we have the opportunity to actually meet. We’ve been talking on the phone quite intensively over the last few weeks. The last time we met was in Cairo and Jerusalem – in Sharm el-Sheikh and Jerusalem in the (inaudible) of direct negotiations. We’ve been talking and will talk today about how to resume them to continue this process to get the historic agreement with peace and security between us and the Palestinians. I would like to add that we also hope to broaden it to many other Arab countries. So this is our common goal. We’re quite serious about doing it and we want to get on with it, so you’ll have to stop asking questions.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) the resumption of the peace talks soon?

SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s what we’re going to be discussing. We’re both very committed to it. I know and I’ve said repeatedly that the prime minister and President Abbas are both very committed to the two-state solution and we’re going to find a way forward.

QUESTION: Is there a formula? Is there a formula (inaudible)?

SECRETARY CLINTON: You must have a million pictures of us doing the handshake. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Is there a formula that (inaudible)?

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.