Clinton and Mitchell's remarks after their pow wow on his trip to the Middle East

Posted By Carolyn O'Hara Tuesday, February 3, 2009 - 4:46 PM Share

This morning, Secretary Clinton got a debriefing from special envoy George Mitchell, who returned from his trip to the Middle East last night. He'll return to the region before the end of the month for more meetings.

No real details were provided, and they only took a single question with regard to any shift in policy toward Hamas:

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Andrea, you know, we have a very clear policy toward Hamas, and Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth. They must renounce violence. They must recognize Israel. And they must agree to abide by prior agreements that were entered into by the Palestinian Authority.

We are just at the beginning of this deep and consistent engagement that we are part of, that Senator Mitchell is leading for our Administration, but our conditions with respect to Hamas have not and will not change. It is our hope that the work that needs to be done to move the parties toward an effort to settle many of the disputes that they currently confront will be effective. But Hamas knows that it must stop the rocket fire into Israel. There were rockets yesterday, there were rockets this morning. And it is very difficult to ask any nation to do anything other than defend itself in the wake of that kind of consistent attack. So that’s not new news.
EXPLORE:HILLARY, STATE DEPARTMENT, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
 
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IKANT

8:01 PM ET

February 3, 2009

Hamas

In spite of the position stated here, Hamas has the right to fight the israeli occupation, and Secretary Clinton knows that they have met the conditions she pointed out. Hamas is ready to star a true but fair cease fire. It would be better for the US to quickly acknowledge this, there is no possible understanding without engaging Hamas, the elected government. In my opinion, the West has lost all the credibility when it comes to free elections and democracy because the palestinians have done it and the reward was boycoting the elected government.

 

TKG

10:29 PM ET

February 3, 2009

Hamas

Get your facts straight. Hamas was not elected by the Palestinian people...Fatah was. When Gaza was turned over to the Palestinian people Hamas took it over and drove out Fatah (the elected government from Gaza). The people of Gaza had little choice. In the meantime as the rockets are being hurled at Israel from Gaza..the Israelis and the elected Palestinian government are quietly talking.

 

KSF

12:18 AM ET

February 4, 2009

Hamas was elected

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_legislative_election,_2006#Parties_participating

The elections were ruled as free and transparent...

 

MODERATEWINGER

4:27 AM ET

February 4, 2009

Sen. Clinton is right.

In order to have a chance at peace, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel. Israel does have the right, as any nation would, to defend itself. If Hamas continues firing rockets into Israel, Israel must do what it can to keep their people safe. Hamas started this little war, which many people seem to forget. Also, how are you going to talk with Hamas when their STATED GOAL is the total destruction of Israel. George Mitchell has his work cut out for him, and I wish him well, however, as long as the rockets keep going into Israel, no peace is possible.

 

ANNE

1:13 AM ET

February 7, 2009

she was fabulous and..

i appreciate what mitchell said about her paving the way for him and as such his having such a warm reception.

 

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