Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 6/1/10 James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

MR. GIBBS:  Mr. Feller.

Q    Sir.  Two topics I’d like to ask you about, Robert.  On the Mideast, does President Obama condemn Israel’s raid of the aid ship headed to Gaza?

MR. GIBBS:  Well, Ben, let me simply restate what the international community and the United States supported early this morning at the U.N. Security Council through a presidential statement.  The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza.  The Council in this context condemns those acts, which resulted in the loss of at least 10 civilians and many wounded, and expresses its condolences to their families.  The Security Council requests the immediate release of the ships, as well as civilians held by Israel.
Q    So that would seem to cover President Obama’s personal feeling, while

some of the allies are looking for a stronger statement from him directly.
MR. GIBBS:  Again, this is supported not just by the United States but by the international community.
Q    And does the President feel like he is still in a position of gathering facts about what happened or have you ascertained enough to —
MR. GIBBS:  Well, the Security Council, the statement that I read, calls for an investigation that is prompt, impartial, credible and transparent, conforming to international standards of exactly what happened.  And we’re obviously supportive of that.
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Q    Okay, and in light of what happened with the Gaza aid flotilla, is the President considering at least backing international calls to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces?
MR. GIBBS:  No.  Well, look, obviously, as we have said before, we are concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and continue to work with the Israelis and international partners in order to improve those conditions.  And as the U.N. Security Council statement says, obviously it’s an untenable situation.
Q    Should the blockade be lifted?
MR. GIBBS:  Again, we’re working with those to improve the humanitarian conditions.  I do think it’s helpful to understand that this is a blockade of — to not allow weapons to get into the hands of Hamas.
Q    And humanitarian aid.
MR. GIBBS:  And we have said that — well, I’ll just leave it at that.
Q    And what are the President’s concerns that the Gaza incident — the flotilla incident might — has poisoned the atmosphere to the extent that indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians won’t go forward?  Will there be delay of some sort here?
MR. GIBBS:  Well, look, I would say, obviously we’re
— the President spoke on three occasions yesterday with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and obviously we regret that but understand completely why he went back to Israel and had to cancel the meeting.
The schedule for Mr. Abbas coming is still the same.  And we think more than ever we need a comprehensive Middle East peace plan.
Q    Mitchell is back in the region tomorrow, I believe —
MR. GIBBS:  He is.
Q    — for the Palestine Investment Conference.  Will he be shuttling between Abbas and Netanyahu for talks?
MR. GIBBS:  Let me get — I don’t off the top of my head know his schedule, but I’ll — let me see if I have anything additional to –
Q    But you expect indirect talks will go forward?
MR. GIBBS:  Yes.
Q    Okay.
MR. GIBBS:  Yes, sir.
Q    Does President Obama believe the Israelis’ version of events?
MR. GIBBS:  I’m sorry?
Q    Does President Obama believe — does he believe the Israeli government’s

version of events?
MR. GIBBS:  Well, again, Jake, I’d refer you to the U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an investigation so that everybody knows exactly what happened.
Q    Let’s talk about that investigation.  Is it important that it be run by the Israelis?  Does the President want the international community to be involved in the investigation?
MR. GIBBS:  Well, I would say that — obviously what I said earlier, the resolution calls for a prompt and transparent investigation.  Obviously we are open to ways to assure a credible investigation, including international participation.
Q    And there were Americans on the flotilla.  Has there been any — do you have any information about whether any of them were hurt?  There was an unconfirmed report that an American student lost an eye in the incident.  Do you know anything?
MR. GIBBS:  I think we’re in contact with the Israelis in order to get an accounting as to whether any American citizens — obviously American citizens were — acting as private citizens — were on some of these ships. 
We’re working with the Israelis to determine if any of those individuals were injured, and as the resolution says, would call on the Israelis to release both the ships and any of those people.
Q    Is the President concerned at all that after all his work to repair relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world that a situation like this destroys it overnight?
MR. GIBBS:  The U.S. relationship with the Muslim —
Q    The U.S. relationship with the Muslim world by standing so steadfastly with Israel?
MR. GIBBS:  No, again — again, I would point you to
— I think it was a pretty clear statement by the international community that the United States —
Q    I wouldn’t call it that — I mean, it condemns acts that were taken that led to the loss of life, but it doesn’t say whose acts.  It could have been the flotilla’s acts, or it could have been the IDF’s acts.  It’s not clear from that statement.
MR. GIBBS:  Well, I think our opinion is this is a pretty clear statement, and obviously —
Q    Whose acts — whose acts are you talking about in that statement?  Is it the IDF or is it the —
MR. GIBBS:  Again, we’re talking about series of facts that will be determined by an appropriate investigation as I just said.
Q    Okay, so there’s no specificity as to whose acts it’s condemning?
MR. GIBBS:  Well, maybe you have information as to exactly how this went this down that the rest of the international community may not be completely clear on, Jake.  But, again, I’m saying, and let me get —
Q    Well, it looks like you don’t even know what — you don’t know what happened.
MR. GIBBS:  We can play circular ball all day long, Jake.  Obviously we condemn the loss of life and we regret it deeply.  I think that is knowable, correct?
Q    That’s correct.
MR. GIBBS:  Okay, good.  So I would simply say — reiterate what is in the statement.  In terms of our relationship with the Muslim world, I think the President has obviously spent a lot of time on improving our relationship with countries throughout the world, and special time and care on our relationship with the Muslim world.  I do not think that this will have a great impact on that.
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Q    Does the President believe that Israel is becoming a burden politically to the United States —
MR. GIBBS:  I’m sorry, what was the question?
Q    Does the President believe that Israel is becoming a political burden to the United States?
MR. GIBBS:  Based on?  Based on?  No.  Let me be clear here.  The United States and Israel — as I have said on countless occasions, we have a trusted relationship.  They are an important ally and we are greatly supportive of their security.  That’s not going to change.
Q    How about the Palestinians’ security?
Q    A quick follow.  Does the President believe that Mr. Netanyahu is in control of his government?  And finally, what does this situation —
MR. GIBBS:  That’s not for me to talk about, Margaret.  I’m happy to try to convey information but I don’t have an answer to that.
Q    Well, what does the situation do to U.S. relations with Turkey, specifically?  Can you talk about that?
MR. GIBBS:  Well, look, the President spoke with Prime Minister Erdogan seven to 10 days ago.  They had a good conversation about things like Iran. 
I anticipate that in the coming days the President and Prime Minister will talk again.  Obviously they’re an important friend in all this and a relationship that we value greatly.
Q    They have not spoken in the wake of this?
MR. GIBBS:  They have not spoken, no.  I know that they have not. 

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