Exerpt: November 13 Press Briefing

Mr. Boucher: I don't think I have any particular comment on that action. We have been concerned in recent days by the level of violence. We've been concerned -- very concerned -- by the attack on the kibbutz, for example, which we most clearly condemn.

We have always said, I think, that Israel does have a right to defend itself, has a right to take actions against terrorism, but at the same time needs to think about its actions, keep in mind the consequences and take effective steps to prevent civilian casualties in the operations.

So we have urged the Palestinians very strongly and continue to press them, to call for an immediate end to terror, and to take real action to dismantle the infrastructure that supports terrorism and violence. And David Satterfield, our Ambassador, has made these points with senior Palestinian leaders, including with Saeb Erekat in meetings in Jericho today. So he's out there, has made these points to both sides about the continuing violence in the region.

Question: On a related issue, there's many reports today that the United States has agreed to freeze the roadmap process until the Israeli elections. Is that correct?

Mr. Boucher: I wouldn't exactly call it frozen. I guess what I would say is that domestic developments in both Israel and the Palestinian areas have always influenced the timetable of our efforts, but the roadmap process is one that we want to continue. We have heard comments now from the parties during the various visits that Ambassador Burns had out there. The roadmap -- you have to think of it as a living and evolving document. And we'll certainly consider the comments and take these into account as the document evolves.

But more importantly, I would have to say, it's a performance-based document. It's a statement that, as the two sides start to take steps, whenever that happens, that the other side should respond. So we continue to work on some of the issues involved in the roadmap and in achieving the President's vision, like Palestinian reform. We have the Task Force's meetings. We continue to work on issues of revenue and other steps, reciprocal obligations.

So, to the extent we can proceed on those steps, to the extent we can proceed on the path outlined by the President and outlined by the roadmap, we will. But, as I said, we obviously will take into account the domestic timetables.

Question: Can I just follow up on that? You say it's not frozen. Can you think of another description for it, then?

Mr. Boucher: It continues to evolve.

Question: Okay. Can I put it this way, then? Do you expect -- well, start with this. Have the Israelis told you that they will not give their response to the latest version of the roadmap before the elections?

Mr. Boucher: I think we have already heard some comments from the Israelis. I don't know if they will have something further to say before the elections or not.

Question: Are there any plans for the Quartet to hold the proposed meeting in early December to endorse a final version of it?

Mr. Boucher: There is no -- I have nothing at this point, any particular plans for a Quartet meeting. We'll just have to see. The last Quartet meeting was in October when Bill Burns met with the Quartet in Paris. But I don't have anything new on the agenda right now.

Question: Well, the Task Force meeting in Amman is going ahead, isn't it?

Mr. Boucher: The Task Force meeting in Amman is going ahead, and they're taking up a lot of these issues of reform and humanitarian assistance and other matters that are part of the roadmap that are part of the President's vision.

Question: You said several times that you have to take the domestic timetable into account. What does that mean?

Mr. Boucher: Well, the roadmap, as a document, will continue to develop. We'll continue to talk to the parties. As your colleague asked, the parties may have more or less to say, depending on what they're doing domestically, what they're doing in terms of elections.

The second part of it is that the roadmap, as it develops, is also a sequence of steps where it's performance-based; where, as people do things, then other things should start to happen. We have to recognize that during election periods or whatever, those steps may not be happening quite as quickly and automatically. So we'll take that into account and understand the fact the parties are preoccupied with elections or other things, but we'll still continue to develop both the document and the steps, as we can, during these periods.

Question: Right. But how does that change the evolution of the roadmap? How has the evolution of the roadmap, or the process of it, changed since before the Israeli government -- before Sharon hit all these problems? Are you being less active in pushing each side? I mean, I don't get it.

Mr. Boucher: No, I think the United States continues to be active, and the Task Force meeting, the trips and the Task Force meeting, are evidence of that.

I'm just saying that we're aware of the reality that, as people go into elections and other domestic issues, we have to be aware that they may not have the same kind of answers or may not be taking the same kind of steps. But we certainly want to proceed, as I said the other day, as much as we can and as is appropriate at this time.

Question: But, Richard, wasn't it always a part of the roadmap that there were going to be Palestinian elections, presumably, at the end of this year? And so why, if Palestinian elections wouldn't have disrupted the roadmap, why would Israeli elections?

Mr. Boucher: I'm not using words like "disrupted." I think we will continue to proceed on both the document and the developments, as we can and as is appropriate. Nonetheless, we are aware of the reality of elections.

The ideas is in the roadmaps that reforms would lead to elections in the early part of 2003 on the Palestinian side was always part of the issues of reform, as they have been considered and discussed both within the Palestinian community and with the others. So how, at that moment, it may or may not have affected some of the steps that might be taken or the responses that might be given at that time, I think would be a matter of speculation.

But certainly, all I'm doing is saying we understand that the reality is that people may not be as active in responding or taking steps during an election period. But from our point of view, we look to proceed, we are continuing to develop the document, and we're continuing to work on the concrete steps involved in achieving the roadmap and achieving the President's vision.

Question: So do you think it's no longer realistic to expect a Palestinian state by 2005, or even a provisional state by 2003?

Mr. Boucher: I don't think we have changed the overall timetable at all.

Question: Richard, this is a related question to the Palestinian election question. But is the US still supporting and offering expertise and that sort of thing in gearing up for this early 2003 election for the Palestinians? And, if so, isn't that considering -- isn't that a big part of the roadmap? So, I mean, are you sort of picking and choosing on the roadmap?

Mr. Boucher: Ambassador Satterfield is now in Amman, Jordan. He'll begin discussions with his counterparts in the Task Force regarding the Task Force's efforts to advance Palestinian civil and institutional reform that makes possible free, fair and credible Palestinian elections in early 2003. These steps will help realize the President's vision of a final settlement based on two sides living side by side in peace and security. So that's very much a part of it, the Task Force working towards the kind of reform that makes possible these elections in the Palestinian community.

Question: Well, maybe you could just clarify. The evolution of the roadmap, or the slowing of the implementation of the roadmap, or you've used word sort of it's still evolving, does not change other US policy goals that are encompassed in that roadmap, such as trying to lead to a free and fair election in Palestinian areas.

Mr. Boucher: No, the goals and the steps haven't changed. The steps -- and we're still looking for the steps. We're not backing off. We're looking for the steps from the sides, for them to respect their mutual obligations, for them to carry out the kind of steps of reform and security that are needed whether there are elections going on or not.

But, on the other hand, we know the reality that domestic developments often do affect the timetable for the parties and how they respond at different moments.

Question: But -- okay, and then I'll stop. But are you pretty much saying that you're keeping the commitments for the Palestinians but you recognize that because in this election period the Israelis are not going to commit; is that what you're saying?

Mr. Boucher: No, I'm saying what I did say.

Question: All right.

Mr. Boucher: I'm saying what I did say, and I'm happy to say it again, if you want me to. We're going to keep working this.

Question: I don't want to play a game, Richard. I just --

Mr. Boucher: We're going to keep working this as much as we can during the present circumstances as things evolve, and we recognize that as things evolve we'll be dealing with both sides during moments when one or the other side may find it more difficult to be responsive.

But nonetheless, we think the goals in the President's speech are quite clear, the steps to get there are quite clear, and those will continue to be developed and to evolve, as much as we can.

Charlie.

Question: No, no, I've got one more on this. Charlie, we can talk about that later.

Question: Okay.

Question: Foreign Minister Netanyahu said last week that the roadmap was no longer on the table. Secretary Powell was asked about this on Sunday and he said that although Foreign Minister Netanyahu had said that, that was not his understanding of what Prime Minister Sharon's position was on the roadmap, that Sharon was ready, willing and able to work on the roadmap.

Is that still the US understanding of Israel's position?

Mr. Boucher: I don't know of any change in that position. But if you want to explain Prime Minister Sharon's position, you can ask him.

Question: Yes, I'm sure someone will.

Mr. Boucher: I'm sure someone will.

Question: Then you say that the impetus for this change is on the Israeli side, right? The Palestinians have every interest in wanting to keep this going, correct?

Mr. Boucher: I think there are a lot of parties that want to keep this going, including the United States. And we will keep it going, as best we can, during the period.

Question: But you're basically acceding to an Israeli request --

Mr. Boucher: No, I wouldn't put it that way.

Question: -- to back down, no?

Mr. Boucher: We are saying that we maintain our commitment to the President's vision, we maintain our commitment to the roadmap and to the steps that it will take to accomplish it. We continue to work on those steps as much as we can. We continue to view that both sides have obligations now and in any future evolution of the roadmap. And we will continue to work that. We'll also be aware of the reality of the different parties and work as much as we can with them, given their circumstances.

Mark.

Question: Richard, does American support and assistance for the Palestinian political process extend to an election in which Yasser Arafat's name might appear on the ballot as president?

Mr. Boucher: I don't think I can get ahead of ourselves. We're looking towards open and credible Palestinian elections in the first part of 2003. That's being discussed by the Task Force now. I think it's premature to start specifying how the ballots get printed and things like that.

Question: Are there any conditions on the American support and assistance to the Palestinian --

Mr. Boucher: I'll leave that to people who are discussing it right now.