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 August 6, 2009
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12:44 p.m. EDT
QUESTION: Israeli newspaper is reporting that the U.S. has asked Israel to freeze settlements for a year to make to – as a way of pressuring or encouraging the Arabs to normalize relations with Israel. Do you know anything about – along those lines? Of course, you don’t like settlements on the West Bank, anyhow. But has there been a specific request to freeze settlements for a year, so that the trial effort –
MR. WOOD: I appreciate the question, Barry, but it wouldn’t be good for me to talk about those types of discussions with regard – that are going on.
We have discussions with our Israeli partner about the issue of settlements. Our settlement policy is very clear, but I’m not going to talk about private discussions that we had with the Israeli Government on the question of settlements.
Samir.
QUESTION: Yeah. What about Senator Mitchell? Is he planning to travel to London to meet with the Israeli prime minister by the end of this month?
MR. WOOD: I know that he is planning to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Europe. I don’t think the details of that meeting have been confirmed yet, but once we have those details, Samir, we’re more than happy to share them with you.
Thank you all.
(The briefing was concluded at 1:12 p.m.)
