Middle East Digest - July 1, 2009
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Washington, DC
July 1, 2009
The Middle East Digest provides text and audio from the Daily Press Briefing. For the full briefings, please visit daily press briefings.
From the Daily Press Briefing of July 1, 2009
I have time for one more question.
QUESTION: One more?
MR. KELLY: Yeah, go ahead.
QUESTION: Erin Connors from Press TV. Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and members of the Free Gaza Movement were intercepted by the Israeli army when they were on a humanitarian mission over there. What’s being done about that? Are they on their way home? Will they be deported? What’s the next step there, and will their supplies ever get to where they’re going?
MR. KELLY: On that last question, I don’t know the answer, actually. I think I have to refer you to the Government of Israel. We can confirm that the Israeli navy did arrest those on board this – the ship which is known as Spirit. We can’t comment on any of the individuals or the number of individual American citizens on board because of Privacy Act concern. Our Embassy has been in touch with the Israeli authorities. We have been told that the boat was stopped in Israeli waters and is being escorted to an Israeli port, or may have already gone to an Israeli port. We understand passengers are safe and all accounted for. We’re seeking consular access to the American citizens who are on board. And we don’t take any position regarding the Free Gaza Movement or any of its messages.
QUESTION: Anything on Mitchell-Barak meeting yesterday?
MR. KELLY: I think we issued a statement.
QUESTION: In addition to that?
MR. KELLY: Well, I think I’ll let the statement stand for itself.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:47 p.m.)
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