http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=54695

[Dr. Aaron Lerner – IMRA: This is as close as Mr. Penetta gets to saying anything about the Palestinians: “Israel should look for ways to bolster this cooperation. And President Abbas must take the difficult steps to do exactly the same thing. “

And then he goes on to say that Israel should “Just get to the damn table” without recognizing that it is the Palestinians – not the Israelis – who
refuse to go to the “damn table”.]

While we share Israel’s legitimate concerns about instability in the Sinai Peninsula and the attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo, the best way to address these concerns is through increasing communication and cooperation – increasing communication and cooperation with Egyptian authorities, not by stepping away from it.

MR. POLLACK: And this will have to be your last question. Mr. Secretary, you made a strong statement about Israel’s responsibility towards peace. What steps should it take now? Withdraw the Israeli army from the Palestinian territories? It’s a suggestion and a question. It’s a suggestion in the form of a question.

SEC. PANETTA: Just get to the damn table. Just get to the table. (Applause.) The problem right now is we can’t get them to the damn table to at least sit down and begin to discuss their differences – you know, we all know what the pieces are here for a potential agreement. We’ve talked it out, worked through, we understand the concerns, we understand the concerns of Israel, understand the concerns of the Palestinians. If they sit at a table and work through those concerns, and the United States can be of assistance in that process, then I think you have the beginning of what
could be a process that would lead to a peace agreement.

But if they aren’t there – if they aren’t at the table, this will never happen. So first and foremost, get to the damn table. (Applause.)

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Transcript

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