White House reporters want to know: Why no pool for the meeting tonight between President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? No camera, no reporters, no nothing.
Such meetings — with any world leader — usually include a photo-op with a friendly exchange ("I welcome my good friend etc.") before the meeting starts, and then, after the meeting, the two and two format: Two questions from the U.S. media and two from the media of the visiting leader.
Here’s the back and forth with spokesman Robert Gibbs, who effectively dodges a credible explanation and who also reiterates the "nothing has changed" line on settlements policy:
Q What does the White House — well, one thing first, on the meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister tonight. Why is that closed, no press avail, the statements? What is the thinking there?
MR. GIBBS: Well, the President obviously is — will meet later today with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss a full range of issues —
Q — want to meet with him? This meeting was —
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, as you know, our schedule since late last week has been up in the air. The President was supposed to speak on Tuesday to the same group that Prime Minister Netanyahu is speaking to. He obviously looks forward to sitting down with the Prime Minister tonight — and continue to work together to address issues like Middle East peace and the threat that’s posed by Iran.
(snip)
Q And on the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I just wanted to follow up. I understand the schedule has been in flux, but why no television cameras? Is it because you don’t want to highlight the fact that there’s not a lot of progress in these talks so far?
MR. GIBBS: No, the President wanted to have a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. That’s what we’re doing. I’m sure, Ed, that the contents of the meeting generally seem to be well read out and I trust that this time will be no different.
Q But typically the President will go on camera if he wants to highlight what is a key initiative for him, and if Mideast peace is that important you would think that he would want to do that.
MR. GIBBS: Well, like the date didn’t change from Saturday night to Sunday, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that the President thinks no less of the importance of the Middle East peace process on simply by subtracting one television camera.
Q And the last thing, on settlements. Last week, Secretary Clinton was in Israel, and suggested — she wanted to praise the Israelis for some progress on settlements. And the Palestinians were upset because the U.S. policy has been a complete freeze on settlements.
MR. GIBBS: Policy dating back several decades, yes.
Q Right, but specifically it was emphasized in the early days of this administration. And the Palestinians felt like maybe there were some back-peddling. Can you just clear up — there was a sense that she seemed to be shifting last week.
MR. GIBBS: No, no, again, I judge from your question — the policy of the United States government for many decades has been no more settlements. That’s not something that is new to this administration. It’s something that I think has gotten disproportionate media coverage, but it’s not a policy difference in this administration and previous administrations.
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