A day after criticizing as “unfortunate and counterproductive” a vote by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize Palestine as a nonmember observer state, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a candid keynote address at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in which she criticized Israel for a lack of empathy.
Zippi Livni, Haim Saban, Hillary Clinton at the #Saban forum pic.twitter.com/NmKNDySv
— Natasha Mozgovaya (@mozgovaya) December 1, 2012
CLinton, speaking freely now, criticizes Israelis for a “lack of empathy” toward the Palestinians. #Saban12
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) December 1, 2012
Clinton recalls criticism for use of "unprecednetd" on settlement freeze. Bibi was "good to his word" #Saban12
— (((Ron Kampeas))) (@kampeas) December 1, 2012
But notes Israeli "lack of generosity, lack of empathy that goes hand in hand with suspicion" — Hilary #Saban12
— (((Ron Kampeas))) (@kampeas) December 1, 2012
Clinton sounds authentic now, Her best moments of the evening, lays blame on Palestinians but somehow sounds disappointed with Israelis
— Chemi Shalev (@ChemiShalev) December 1, 2012
Clinton "Israelis have good grounds to be suspicious..Palestinians could have had state as old as I am" if they made right decisions in '67"
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) December 1, 2012
Clinton says there is an Israeli "lack of generosity and lack of empathy" that comes w/ suspicions. There's more Israel needs to do for Pals
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) December 1, 2012
https://twitter.com/lexiconstable/status/274708965995192320
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Clinton also urged Israel to take the moral high ground in its dealings with Palestinians.
Clinton says wants Israel to try harder with Palestinians. "That's what I want Israel to occupy, the moral high ground"
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) December 1, 2012
They DO. RT @SooperMexican: 'I want Israel to occupy the moral high ground, that's what I want them to occupy!" – Hillary Clinton #Saban12
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) December 1, 2012
https://twitter.com/RightWingNerd/status/274705180409348096
@MelissaTweets amazing that she uttered that after pretty much laying out why Israel has a reason to be suspicious of Palestinians…
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) December 1, 2012
Clinton’s unusually critical remarks struck a chord with observers.
https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/274706367716139009
yes! RT @JeffreyGoldberg: A serious question, @blakehounshell, and @lrozen — does Hillary know she's speaking on the record?
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 1, 2012
Clinton's candor on Israeli-Palestinian issue is remarkable. This is when she is at her best
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) December 1, 2012
Great speech by Hillary Clinton tonight – such a class act. Shame Pres Obama can't persuade her to stay on as Sec of State.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 1, 2012
@SooperMexican She's disgusting. Ugh. Perfect wife to Bill and Barack.
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) December 1, 2012
Update:
#SecClinton's remarks at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy 2012 Saban Forum: http://t.co/laxuXJQt
— Department of State (@StateDept) December 1, 2012
Here’s the key bit from the State Department transcript of Clinton’s speech:
So, look, I’m not making excuses for the missed opportunities of the Israelis, or the lack of generosity, the lack of empathy that I think goes hand-in-hand with the suspicion. So, yes, there is more that the Israelis need to do to really demonstrate that they do understand the pain of an oppressed people in their minds, and they want to figure out, within the bounds of security and a Jewish democratic state, what can be accomplished.
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