There was a bizarre scene during today’s White House briefing, when White House Press Secretary Jay Carney flat-out refused to say whether the capital of Israel was Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, despite repeated questioning from multiple reporters. The Washington Examiner’s Joel Gehrke reports:
Carney was caught flat-footed when asked which city is Israel’s capital. “I haven’t had that question in awhile,” he said after some hesitation. “Our position has not changed. You know our position.” The reporter said she didn’t know, but Carney moved on to another question.
That answer touched off a somewhat unruly scene, as WND’s Lester Kinsolving interjected that “she doesn’t know, that’s why she asked.” Carney moved on.
The Weekly Standard’s Dan Halper has video of the exchange:
At one point, a visibly uncomfortable Carney says the White House’s “position has not changed.” In March, there was a similar exchange between State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland and reporters. The Obama administration has refused to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in contrast to Obama’s own statements to the AIPAC conference during his 2008 campaign.
Carney has a great future with the BBC.
Israel's capital of Jerusalem hasn't changed either, Jay.
Neither has the US position. The US embassy is in Tel Aviv. Bush didn’t move it. Reagan didn’t move it. Obama didn’t move it.
As Jay said, neither has US policy. The US embassy is in Tel Aviv. Bush didn't move it. Reagan didn't move it. Obama didn't move it.
HillelA, you are correct. But not one of them denied that Israel's capital is in Jerusalem. nWhat would the Obama administration have to do to get you to admit (to us or to yourself) that it has been bad for the US-Israel relationship, which in turn has increased the chances of strife in the region? n nPlease don't respond by telling me which other presidents you think have been as bad or worse.
this is the best reply I've read or will read. thank you nvkma!
One musn’t forget that the State Department position hasn’t changed either in almost a century:
” Blowing the Whistle on Genocide: Josiah E. DuBois, Jr. and the Struggle for a U.S. Response to the Holocaust ”
to be published in the near future by Purdue University Press.
My CIA guide to the nations of the world ("The CIA World Factbook 2010") lists Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (Page 340, Skyhorse Publishing edition). Maybe someone ought to buy Jay a copy..only $14.99.
He might not be anti-Israeli, he may just actually be too stupid to know that the capital of Israel is Jerusalem. But I doubt it. Mustn't offend those precious muslims. n
Jerusalem became the capital of Judea and Israel over 3000 years ago when King David conquered it. It predates Washington, D.C., London, England, Rome, and Athens, both as a city and as a capital. When there was no country of Judea or Israel, it was not a capital city. But it has been the capital of the country of Israel since 1948, the complete city after 1967.
Hey, *I* didn't know "since 1948" — what then *was* Tel Aviv???? nI seem to remember a lot of important people being and a lot of seemingly important things happening in this place called "Tel Aviv."
Tel Aviv is many things, but was never Israel's capital, but to answer your question, Tel Aviv was in 1948 (and is) (1) a major commercial and cultural center, (2) not exposed to Jordanian sniper fire and not the target ot the illegal siege that Jordan, with British connivance, conducted in 1947-1948, and (3) sometimes treated as though it were Israel's capital by people who for religious, political, or other reasons cannot admit to the reality of an independent Jewish state with its capital in Jerusalem.
Okay, live and learn. According to Wikipedia, "Tel Aviv was the temporary government center of the State of Israel until the government moved to Jerusalem in December 1949. " Oddly enough, Tel Aviv's official web site makes no mention of that fact, even in its Histroy tab. But #3 of my earlier post remains true.
This is nothing new, and not unique to the Obama administration. What I have never understood is why this is controversial, even among "peace processers." n nThe Knesset, Supreme Court, and other major government buildings are all within the 1949 armistice line. How long until someone calls the US out on this and demands to know if the US refusal to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel's capital is because they believe that pre-'67 Israel should also be on the negotiating table?
Perhaps it might be worthwhile to publicize this in the American media? nI consider myself reasonably well educated, with degrees from institutions that many consider respectable, and honestly did not know this. n nAnd why are the embassies in Tel Aviv? In the 1950s, the Arabs (including Egypt) were very much with the Soviets, the US with Israel, and hence why not put it wherever the Israelis wanted it?
Pr. O and the State Dept have the same position. To divide the Jews, and they have the help of the left, full of democrat Jews.
Jay must be watching BBC too much!
Heard the exchange & ?. Both are in Israel, Y would any1 ? what Israel says is its capitol? How is that political? What admin. built the embassy there?
Please do not think I am taking Obama's side in what I am here saying. As I understand it, Palestine wants Israel out of what they have decided is their city (Jerusalem) — and, because Obama is either fully and completely commited to the Muslim position or he has some aversion to the US-Israel alliance and truly feels he must work extra hard to convince the Muslims he isn't in the tank for Israel, he is going out of his way to make sure he doesn't offend the Palestinians (that's the bottom line) … no matter how much he offends the Israelis.
When or if Obama comes to Israel then the Israeli government needs to tell him to fly to Cairo or wherever he thinks the capital of Israel is.