Israel Matzav: State Department leaves Mitchell twisting in the wind

State Department leaves Mitchell twisting in the wind

The State Department has left Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell to twist in the wind regarding cutting off loan guarantees.

"I know that Senator Mitchell's interview with Charlie Rose last week caused some angst in various quarters perhaps in Israel. Just to clarify this, he wasn't signaling any, you know, particular course of action," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said.

...

"Mitchell was simply asked a question with an historical context. You know, are there sticks that are available? And I think he mentioned that this is a step that the United States has taken in the past," Crowley said Monday.

"He wasn't signaling that this is something that we're forecasting in the future. You know, but it is - it obviously is something that we have in our toolbox. It's not that we're out, you know, wielding that particular tool at this particular time."

"The reason why Senator Mitchell is in the region or in Europe this week and he will meet with Israeli officials while he's in Europe - have other meetings as we go forward - is expressly to continue to push, you know, the parties and all who are supporting this process, to get the negotiation restarted as quickly as possible where we can," added Crowley. "... Put all the issues on the table and see if we can, you know, move towards a comprehensive peace in the Middle East."

"So this was simply, you know, George Mitchell commenting on a matter of history," he concluded."

Heh.

If Obama can't say no to anyone else, why should he be able to say no to Israel?

Israel Matzav: State Department leaves Mitchell twisting in the wind