State Department spokesman: We also want to criticize the Palestinians, we really do

I just filed a story on Jewish groups’ wanting to know why the White House is spending so much time complaining about Israeli building plans in Jerusalem, and not Palestinain incitement.

As I note in the story, at his daily media brieing Monday, the State Department’s P.J. Crowley actually used a question about Israel to focus some attention on the Palestinians. But it didn’t go over to well with the assembled reporters:

QUESTION: So when the Secretary spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, did she make any specific requests of his government and what sort of actions they’d like to see taken?

MR. CROWLEY: She did outline for Prime Minister Netanyahu some specific things that we wanted to see from the Israeli Government. I’m not going to go into specific detail. I think that they involve not only specifics about the project in question that was announced last week, but really more so about the willingness of the parties to engage seriously in this process and jointly create conditions for its success and be willing to address the core issues at the heart of the peace process.

I would say that we also have some concerns today about the tensions regarding the rededication of a synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. And we are urging all parties to act responsibly and do whatever is necessary to remain calm. We’re deeply disturbed by statements made by several Palestinian officials mischaracterizing the event in question, which can only serve to heighten the tensions that we see. And we call upon Palestinian officials to put an end to such incitement.

So this is something that we are and will continue to talk with both parties about, which is – as we see, proximity talks started. Both sides have responsibilities to make sure that there’s an appropriate environment that allows progress to be made.

What’s fascinating is just how much trouble Crowley had in making headway with his efforts to bring the Palestinians into the conversation.

First, the reporters in the room didn’t bite, sticking to questions about U.S.-Israeli tensions:

QUESTION: Did she specifically ask, though, to put an end to the 1600 apartments, the project that was announced —

MR. CROWLEY: Again, I’m not going to go into particulars, but her discussion on Friday did focus not only on this particular housing initiative, but also about the process more broadly.

QUESTION: Let me follow up, though. There’s word today that the project that – Netanyahu, who announced that the project’s going to go forward. Any reaction to that?

MR. CROWLEY: We – she – when she outlined for the prime minister our specific concerns, she asked for a formal response by the Israeli Government that has – and we await that response.

QUESTION: So – but tell us again, does it – you have no reaction to him saying that this project’s going to go forward? I mean, how about – can you say publicly —

MR. CROWLEY: As I just said, when she outlined what she thought appropriate actions would be to the prime minister, she asked for a response by the Israeli Government. We wait for that response.

QUESTION: So you’re discounting whatever he said today? It does – means nothing to you?

MR. CROWLEY: I’m saying that we asked for a formal response from the Israeli Government and when we get that response, we’ll react to it.

QUESTION: P.J.

MR. CROWLEY: Sir.

QUESTION: P.J., there are Israeli media reports or there were Israeli media reports over the weekend that said that she had indeed asked for cessation of this project. You can’t address that at all?

MR. CROWLEY: I just said – Arshad, as to particulars of what she asked, I’m not – just not going to get into the particulars.

QUESTION: Is Senator Mitchell still planning to go to the Middle East? And are the talks going to start or they’ve reached a dead end?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, as we have announced, George Mitchell intends to be in the region this week. However, his schedule is not yet set.

QUESTION: It’s not yet set?

QUESTION: So he’s not leaving tonight?

QUESTION: I understand there are meetings in Israel tomorrow – or tomorrow and Wednesday.

MR. CROWLEY: This is a fluid situation. As of this moment, he’s still in the United States.

Then, when reporters finally do decided to ask about the controversy over the synagogue, they seem to have a tough time accepting that the administration’s upset is with the Palestinian reaction, not the redidcation itself.

QUESTION: Thanks. You mentioned the rededication of a synagogue in the Old City?

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: That you were disappointed in that. Are you disappointed in the rededication or in the reaction?

MR. CROWLEY: No, the reaction. I mean, there have been some mischaracterizations of this particular event, and we have concerns that this could lead to further tensions. And we just call on everyone not to – to be careful about public statements that can incite further violence.

QUESTION: So you’re not objecting to the rededication?

MR. CROWLEY: Not at all, not at all, not at all.

QUESTION: And have there been any —

MR. CROWLEY: This is about statements made about this event, not about the event itself.

QUESTION: By the Palestinians?

QUESTION: Have there been any direct —

QUESTION: By Palestinian officials.

QUESTION: Have there been any direct communications with the Palestinian officials on that issue?

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: And are you requesting specific things of them?

MR. CROWLEY: We have made our concerns known about these public statements regarding this event. I mean, we remain in — over the weekend, we were in contact with officials from — both Palestinians and Israelis as we continue to look for the right conditions to move these talks forward.

And then Crowley found himself fending off suggestions that his bringing up the Palestinian issue was a transparent attempt to appease pro-Israel forces.

QUESTION: One quick one on the concerns that you expressed about the Palestinian statements about the rededication of the synagogue. Who made those concerns known to Palestinian officials? Was that Assistant Secretary Feltman? Was it done through the consul general in Jerusalem? Who actually made that —

MR. CROWLEY: I’m sure it’s more than one. I just don’t have a rundown, Arshad.

QUESTION: But it wasn’t the Secretary?

MR. CROWLEY: No.

QUESTION: Well, are your concerns —

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, I will take this question. I’m not aware that the Secretary talked to President Abbas over the weekend. If she did, we’ll let you know.

QUESTION: But your concerns about the comments on the mosque, do they rise to the same level as your concern on the unhappiness about the statements – the announcement of the (inaudible)?

MR. CROWLEY: I’m not going to draw any comparability here. We – as we’ve said many times —

QUESTION: Well, you’re trying to even it out here.

MR. CROWLEY: No. I am not —

QUESTION: You’ve gotten savaged – you’re getting savaged on the Hill —

MR. CROWLEY: No.

QUESTION: — and by some very powerful interest groups in this city. And you come out – without anyone asking about concerns on the Palestinian side, you’ve offered this up. And so it looks like you’re attempting to balance your criticisms of —

MR. CROWLEY: I understand your question, Matt. I wouldn’t describe it in that way. As we’ve said, both sides have responsibilities, and where we have concerns about either side and jeopardizing the conditions that we think are necessary to move this process forward – as we said when we announced the proximity talks would start, we will not be – we will not hesitate to say so. We have very specific concerns about public statements made surrounding this particular synagogue rededication, and we are not hesitating to talk about those concerns.

We have very particular concerns about a housing project announced while the Vice President of the United States is standing in Israel. And we have condemned that announcement.

QUESTION: Can you —

MR. CROWLEY: But I’m – we’re not trying to achieve any kind of comparability here. Anytime we have concerns about actions being taken on either side, we will not hesitate to say so.

QUESTION: Okay. Can you say which comments by Palestinian officials concern you? What —

MR. CROWLEY: I haven’t got that kind of detail. Go ahead.