WEBVTT 00:01.880 --> 00:03.470 - Good afternoon everyone. 00:03.470 --> 00:05.820 I have several statements I want to make today, 00:06.980 --> 00:08.680 starting with a statement 00:08.680 --> 00:10.060 about the Islamic Republic of Iran. 00:10.060 --> 00:12.290 The United States is monitoring 00:12.290 --> 00:14.443 the ongoing protests in Iran closely. 00:15.350 --> 00:18.260 We condemn strongly any acts of violence 00:18.260 --> 00:20.750 committed by this regime against the Iranian people, 00:20.750 --> 00:24.060 and are deeply concerned by reports of several fatalities. 00:24.060 --> 00:24.893 We've been at that 00:24.893 --> 00:27.010 since the beginning of this administration. 00:27.870 --> 00:30.440 The Islamic Republic must cease violence 00:30.440 --> 00:31.920 against its own people 00:31.920 --> 00:33.910 and should immediately restore the ability of all Iranians 00:33.910 --> 00:36.253 to access a free and open Internet. 00:37.430 --> 00:38.480 The world's watching. 00:39.530 --> 00:41.210 The Iranian people will enjoy a better future 00:41.210 --> 00:45.210 when their government begins to respect basic human rights, 00:45.210 --> 00:49.810 abandons its revolutionary posture 00:49.810 --> 00:52.330 and its destabilizing foreign policy in the region, 00:52.330 --> 00:55.330 and behaves simply like a normal nation. 00:55.330 --> 00:57.230 The choice is clearly with the regime. 00:58.450 --> 00:59.500 Continuing with Iran, 01:00.790 --> 01:02.170 President Rouhani recently announced 01:02.170 --> 01:04.180 that Iran will begin uranium enrichment activities 01:04.180 --> 01:05.543 at the Fordow facility. 01:06.420 --> 01:08.080 Therefore, the United States will terminate 01:08.080 --> 01:08.970 the sanctions waiver 01:08.970 --> 01:11.290 related to the nuclear facility at Fordow, 01:11.290 --> 01:13.683 effective December 15th, 2019. 01:15.920 --> 01:19.850 The right amount of uranium enrichment 01:19.850 --> 01:23.513 for the world's largest state sponsor of terror is zero. 01:24.390 --> 01:26.020 Iran originally constructed Fordow 01:26.020 --> 01:27.440 as a fortified, underground bunker 01:27.440 --> 01:30.630 to conduct secret uranium enrichment work, 01:30.630 --> 01:32.170 and there is no legitimate reason 01:32.170 --> 01:33.390 for Iran to resume enrichment 01:33.390 --> 01:35.680 at this previously clandestine site. 01:35.680 --> 01:38.583 Iran should reverse its activity there immediately. 01:39.890 --> 01:42.730 Iran's supreme leader is reverting 01:42.730 --> 01:43.960 to his tried-and-true method 01:43.960 --> 01:45.730 of using nuclear brinksmanship 01:45.730 --> 01:47.180 to extort the international community 01:47.180 --> 01:50.433 into accepting the regime's destabilizing activity. 01:51.290 --> 01:54.140 The United States rejects this approach completely 01:54.140 --> 01:57.420 and calls on all nations to do the same. 01:57.420 --> 01:58.870 The only viable way forward 01:59.850 --> 02:01.410 is through comprehensive negotiations 02:01.410 --> 02:03.660 that address the full range of Iran's threats 02:04.770 --> 02:06.360 in their entirety. 02:06.360 --> 02:07.540 Iran's most recent action 02:07.540 --> 02:09.720 is yet another clear attempt at nuclear extortion 02:09.720 --> 02:11.650 that will only deepen its political 02:11.650 --> 02:13.923 and economic isolation from the world. 02:15.420 --> 02:17.660 I also want to spend just a minute talking about Iraq. 02:17.660 --> 02:18.493 For the last few weeks, 02:18.493 --> 02:19.700 the United States has watched the protests 02:19.700 --> 02:21.480 very, very closely. 02:21.480 --> 02:22.790 We support the Iraqi people 02:22.790 --> 02:24.410 as they strive for a prosperous Iraq 02:24.410 --> 02:29.050 that is free of corruption and Iranian malign influence. 02:29.050 --> 02:31.740 We've stated clearly that Iraq's leaders 02:31.740 --> 02:34.340 must protect human rights as Iraqis lift their voices 02:34.340 --> 02:37.070 to secure a flourishing democracy. 02:37.070 --> 02:37.980 Our calls are consistent 02:37.980 --> 02:40.160 with the Trump administration's track record 02:40.160 --> 02:42.893 as being a force for good throughout Iraq. 02:43.850 --> 02:45.650 We have worked with the Iraqi security forces 02:45.650 --> 02:47.410 to take down the ISIS caliphate, 02:47.410 --> 02:50.333 and we'll continue to make sure it cannot re-emerge. 02:51.190 --> 02:53.200 The United States remains 02:53.200 --> 02:55.850 the largest humanitarian donor to Iraq, 02:55.850 --> 02:59.950 providing more than $2 billion in food, water, medicine, 02:59.950 --> 03:03.163 and shelter since 2014 alone. 03:04.160 --> 03:07.470 And we are the largest donor as well to stabilization, 03:07.470 --> 03:11.450 rebuilding more than 500 schools, 100 health centers, 03:11.450 --> 03:13.080 50 water treatment plants, 03:13.080 --> 03:15.673 with many more projects coming online soon. 03:16.710 --> 03:18.090 Now our commitment continues. 03:18.090 --> 03:19.130 We will not stand idle 03:19.130 --> 03:23.430 while the corrupt officials make the Iraqi people suffer. 03:23.430 --> 03:24.720 Today, I am affirming the United States 03:24.720 --> 03:25.950 will use our legal authorities 03:25.950 --> 03:27.590 to sanction corrupt individuals 03:28.500 --> 03:29.930 that are stealing Iraqis' wealth 03:29.930 --> 03:32.740 and those killing and wounding peaceful protesters. 03:32.740 --> 03:35.160 Like the Iraqi people taking to the streets today, 03:35.160 --> 03:36.560 our sanctions will not discriminate 03:36.560 --> 03:39.830 between religious sect or ethnicity. 03:39.830 --> 03:41.420 They will simply target 03:41.420 --> 03:43.890 those who do wrong to the Iraqi people, 03:43.890 --> 03:45.040 no matter who they are. 03:47.130 --> 03:48.833 Turning now to Israel, 03:51.250 --> 03:53.280 the Trump administration is reversing 03:53.280 --> 03:54.640 the Obama administration's approach 03:54.640 --> 03:57.090 towards Israeli settlements. 03:57.090 --> 03:59.350 U.S. public statements on settlement activities 03:59.350 --> 04:03.260 in the West Bank have been inconsistent over decades. 04:03.260 --> 04:07.380 In 1978, the Carter administration categorically concluded 04:07.380 --> 04:10.360 that Israel's establishment of civilian settlements 04:10.360 --> 04:13.050 was inconsistent with international law. 04:13.050 --> 04:14.960 However, in 1981, 04:14.960 --> 04:17.680 President Reagan disagreed with that conclusion 04:17.680 --> 04:18.950 and stated that he didn't believe 04:18.950 --> 04:21.493 that the settlements were inherently illegal. 04:22.610 --> 04:24.520 Subsequent administrations recognized 04:24.520 --> 04:26.620 that unrestrained settlement activity 04:26.620 --> 04:28.650 could be an obstacle to peace, 04:28.650 --> 04:30.540 but they wisely and prudently recognized 04:30.540 --> 04:33.523 that dwelling on legal positions didn't advance peace. 04:34.490 --> 04:37.240 However, in December 2016, 04:37.240 --> 04:40.350 at the very end of the previous administration, 04:40.350 --> 04:43.240 Secretary Kerry changed decades of this careful, 04:43.240 --> 04:46.740 bipartisan approach by publicly reaffirming 04:46.740 --> 04:51.030 the supposed illegality of settlements. 04:51.030 --> 04:54.460 After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate, 04:54.460 --> 04:57.080 this administration agrees with President Reagan. 04:57.080 --> 05:00.070 The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements 05:00.070 --> 05:01.440 in the West Bank 05:01.440 --> 05:05.683 is not per se inconsistent with international law. 05:06.580 --> 05:09.710 I want to emphasize several important considerations. 05:09.710 --> 05:13.230 First, look, we recognize that, as Israeli courts have, 05:13.230 --> 05:16.890 the legal conclusions relating to individual settlements 05:16.890 --> 05:19.720 must depend on an assessment of specific facts 05:19.720 --> 05:21.950 and circumstances on the ground. 05:21.950 --> 05:23.210 Therefore, the United States Government 05:23.210 --> 05:26.070 is expressing no view on the legal status 05:26.070 --> 05:27.623 of any individual settlement. 05:28.970 --> 05:30.910 The Israeli legal system affords an opportunity 05:30.910 --> 05:32.620 to challenge settlement activity 05:32.620 --> 05:35.493 and assess humanitarian considerations connected to it. 05:36.530 --> 05:38.350 Israeli courts have confirmed the legality 05:38.350 --> 05:39.980 of certain settlement activities 05:39.980 --> 05:43.143 and has concluded that others cannot be legally sustained. 05:44.570 --> 05:47.060 Second, we are not addressing 05:47.060 --> 05:49.530 or prejudging the ultimate status of the West Bank. 05:49.530 --> 05:52.790 This is for the Israelis and the Palestinians to negotiate. 05:52.790 --> 05:55.010 International law does not compel a particular outcome, 05:55.010 --> 05:59.083 nor create any legal obstacle to a negotiated resolution. 06:00.050 --> 06:04.060 Third, the conclusion that we will no longer recognize 06:04.060 --> 06:06.270 Israeli settlements as per se inconsistent 06:06.270 --> 06:09.670 with international law is based on the unique facts, 06:09.670 --> 06:12.590 history, and circumstances presented by the establishment 06:12.590 --> 06:15.890 of civilian settlements in the West Bank. 06:15.890 --> 06:18.110 Our decision today does not prejudice 06:18.110 --> 06:20.040 or decide legal conclusions 06:20.040 --> 06:23.140 regarding situations in any other parts of the world. 06:23.140 --> 06:25.570 And finally, finally, 06:25.570 --> 06:27.430 calling the establishment of civilian settlements 06:27.430 --> 06:31.310 inconsistent with international law hasn't worked. 06:31.310 --> 06:33.513 It hasn't advanced the cause of peace. 06:34.430 --> 06:36.360 The hard truth is there will never be 06:36.360 --> 06:38.100 a judicial resolution to the conflict, 06:38.100 --> 06:39.795 and arguments about who is right and wrong 06:39.795 --> 06:43.483 as a matter of international law will not bring peace. 06:44.390 --> 06:46.220 This is a complex political problem 06:46.220 --> 06:48.790 that can only be solved by negotiations 06:48.790 --> 06:51.393 between the Israelis and the Palestinians. 06:52.360 --> 06:55.200 The United States remains deeply committed 06:55.200 --> 06:56.370 to helping facilitate peace, 06:56.370 --> 06:59.600 and I will do everything I can to help this cause. 06:59.600 --> 07:01.860 The United States encourages the Israelis 07:01.860 --> 07:03.460 and the Palestinians to resolve the status 07:03.460 --> 07:05.240 of Israeli settlements in the West Bank 07:05.240 --> 07:08.190 in any final status negotiations. 07:08.190 --> 07:10.030 And further, we encourage both sides 07:10.030 --> 07:11.650 to find a solution that promotes, 07:11.650 --> 07:13.720 protects the security and welfare 07:13.720 --> 07:16.143 of Palestinians and Israelis alike. 07:17.740 --> 07:18.990 Turning now to Hong Kong, 07:19.920 --> 07:21.470 the United States is gravely concerned 07:21.470 --> 07:23.840 by the deepening political unrest and violence in Hong Kong, 07:23.840 --> 07:26.814 including the standoff between protesters and police 07:26.814 --> 07:30.540 at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and other campuses. 07:30.540 --> 07:32.020 We have repeatedly called for restraint 07:32.020 --> 07:33.520 from all parties in Hong Kong. 07:34.420 --> 07:37.173 Violence by any side is unacceptable. 07:38.120 --> 07:40.530 The Hong Kong Government bears primary responsibility 07:40.530 --> 07:42.450 for bringing calm to Hong Kong. 07:42.450 --> 07:44.560 Unrest and violence cannot be resolved 07:44.560 --> 07:47.480 by law enforcement efforts alone. 07:47.480 --> 07:49.020 The government must take clear steps 07:49.020 --> 07:51.280 to address public concerns. 07:51.280 --> 07:53.990 In particular, we call on Chief Executive Carrie Lam 07:53.990 --> 07:55.920 to promote accountability by supplementing 07:55.920 --> 07:58.240 the Independent Police Complains Council review 07:58.240 --> 07:59.870 with an independent investigation 07:59.870 --> 08:02.913 into the protest-related incidents. 08:03.930 --> 08:05.630 As the United States Government has said repeatedly, 08:05.630 --> 08:08.800 the Chinese Communist Party must honor its promises 08:08.800 --> 08:10.640 to the Hong Kong people, 08:10.640 --> 08:12.640 who only want the freedoms and liberties 08:12.640 --> 08:13.830 that they have been promised 08:13.830 --> 08:17.453 in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a UN-filed treaty. 08:18.550 --> 08:21.790 And finally, Bolivia. 08:21.790 --> 08:23.130 The Bolivian Government announced Friday 08:23.130 --> 08:25.010 the expulsion of hundreds of Cuban officials 08:25.010 --> 08:26.200 from their country. 08:26.200 --> 08:28.290 It was the right thing to do. 08:28.290 --> 08:30.680 Cuba wasn't sending doctors and officials to Bolivia 08:30.680 --> 08:32.230 to help the Bolivian people, 08:32.230 --> 08:34.760 but rather, to prop up a pro-Cuba regime 08:34.760 --> 08:35.930 headed by Evo Morales, 08:35.930 --> 08:38.950 who sought to maintain his grip on power 08:38.950 --> 08:40.840 through electoral fraud. 08:40.840 --> 08:42.960 Bolivia now joins Brazil and Ecuador 08:42.960 --> 08:45.193 in recognizing the Cuban threat to freedom. 08:46.160 --> 08:48.090 In each case, these governments, 08:48.090 --> 08:49.220 free of outside interference, 08:49.220 --> 08:51.570 have acted to protect their own national sovereignty 08:51.570 --> 08:55.710 and to defend their own citizens' interests. 08:55.710 --> 08:56.650 Bravo, Bolivia. 08:56.650 --> 08:59.220 I'm happy to take a couple of questions. 08:59.220 --> 09:00.376 - [Morgan] Matt. 09:00.376 --> 09:02.110 - Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 09:02.110 --> 09:03.971 On the settlement announcement, 09:03.971 --> 09:06.642 I'm wondering if you are at all concerned 09:06.642 --> 09:08.420 that this position, 09:08.420 --> 09:12.527 this reversal of the previous administration's position, 09:12.527 --> 09:16.300 is going to increase your, the isolation of the U.S., 09:16.300 --> 09:18.690 particularly in the UN and around the world. 09:18.690 --> 09:20.890 Because pretty much everyone else 09:20.890 --> 09:24.180 has held the position that, if not illegal, 09:24.180 --> 09:27.490 they are at least inconsistent with international law. 09:27.490 --> 09:30.800 And then secondly, if I could, there is a lot of questions, 09:30.800 --> 09:32.280 there are a lot of questions 09:32.280 --> 09:37.030 about why you have not chosen to speak up publicly 09:37.030 --> 09:40.280 in defense of your employees, 09:40.280 --> 09:42.690 including those who testified 09:42.690 --> 09:43.780 before the impeachment inquiry. 09:43.780 --> 09:47.080 Can you explain why you haven't chosen 09:47.080 --> 09:50.770 to make comments in their support? 09:50.770 --> 09:51.603 Thanks. 09:51.603 --> 09:56.420 - So first question, well, I must say, sadly, 09:56.420 --> 09:58.534 there hasn't been much support for Israel 09:58.534 --> 10:00.520 in the years leading up to this. 10:00.520 --> 10:02.410 It's hard to imagine more isolation, 10:02.410 --> 10:05.630 unfortunately, at the UN as a result of this decision. 10:05.630 --> 10:08.270 We've been challenged to convince 10:08.270 --> 10:09.340 nations all across the world 10:09.340 --> 10:12.100 to stand up for the people of Israel 10:12.100 --> 10:14.930 and their nation's right to exist. 10:14.930 --> 10:18.480 So no, I don't think this increases that. 10:18.480 --> 10:20.470 I'm happy to talk about Ukraine policy today. 10:20.470 --> 10:22.680 I'm not gonna get into the issues 10:22.680 --> 10:24.680 surrounding the Democrat impeachment inquiry. 10:24.680 --> 10:26.253 I'm just not gonna do it today. 10:27.330 --> 10:32.330 It is worth noting that Ambassador Yovanovitch's departure 10:33.640 --> 10:36.418 preceded the arrival of Bill Taylor. 10:36.418 --> 10:38.900 So some, there's some ideas out there 10:38.900 --> 10:41.020 that somehow this change 10:41.020 --> 10:43.810 was designed to enable some nefarious purpose, 10:43.810 --> 10:45.281 you should all just look at the simple fact 10:45.281 --> 10:47.670 that it was Bill Taylor 10:47.670 --> 10:50.750 that replaced Ambassador Yovanovitch, 10:50.750 --> 10:52.560 who, in each case, 10:52.560 --> 10:55.240 has been driving towards the appropriate Ukraine policy, 10:55.240 --> 10:56.410 which I am happy to talk about. 10:56.410 --> 10:58.150 I am proud of what this administration has done 10:58.150 --> 10:59.350 with respect to Ukraine. 11:00.250 --> 11:03.000 We reversed the massive failures 11:03.000 --> 11:05.240 of the Obama administration's policy towards Ukraine, 11:05.240 --> 11:07.800 which truly did risk the lives of Ukrainian people 11:07.800 --> 11:10.740 and allowed Vladimir Putin to take Crimea 11:10.740 --> 11:13.670 and to fight in the Donbas against a group of Ukrainians 11:13.670 --> 11:15.500 who wanted nothing more than to defend their nation 11:15.500 --> 11:20.500 but were given just blankets and nonlethal equipment. 11:21.220 --> 11:22.460 I am proud of what we've done. 11:22.460 --> 11:24.730 President Trump's policy has been consistent throughout. 11:24.730 --> 11:26.160 The State Department is fully supportive 11:26.160 --> 11:27.660 not only of what we've done 11:27.660 --> 11:29.360 but our Ukraine policy moving forward. 11:29.360 --> 11:31.869 - [Matt] But no defense of your employees? 11:31.869 --> 11:32.930 - [Morgan] Nadia. 11:32.930 --> 11:34.194 - I always defend State Department employees. 11:34.194 --> 11:35.490 It's the greatest diplomatic corps 11:35.490 --> 11:37.720 in the history of the world. 11:37.720 --> 11:38.800 Very proud of the team. 11:38.800 --> 11:39.633 - Thank you, Morgan. 11:39.633 --> 11:42.140 Mr. Secretary, first on Iran. 11:42.140 --> 11:44.460 How do you balance your support 11:44.460 --> 11:45.760 for the Iranian people 11:45.760 --> 11:47.620 and the request to topple their government, 11:47.620 --> 11:51.510 or sorry, the request to hold their government accountable, 11:51.510 --> 11:53.750 and your support for them that has been seen 11:53.750 --> 11:56.953 and criticized by the Iranian regime as interference? 11:57.885 --> 12:00.663 And I have another question on the Palestinian issue. 12:01.630 --> 12:05.843 - We, I remember how the previous administration 12:05.843 --> 12:07.360 treated the Iranian people. 12:07.360 --> 12:09.456 I remember the signs that said, 12:09.456 --> 12:13.930 "Are you with us, are you with the regime?" 12:13.930 --> 12:15.290 I don't think anybody in the world 12:15.290 --> 12:19.270 has any doubt about where this administration stands. 12:19.270 --> 12:21.250 We want Iran to be a normal nation, 12:21.250 --> 12:22.170 and we want the people there 12:22.170 --> 12:24.370 to have the freedoms to which they're entitled, 12:24.370 --> 12:28.040 and we want the, we want the regime's monies 12:28.040 --> 12:31.370 to be spent on things that benefit the Iranian people, 12:31.370 --> 12:35.040 not proxy forces in Iraq, not underwriting Hizballah, 12:35.040 --> 12:38.290 not conducting assassination campaigns throughout Europe. 12:38.290 --> 12:40.810 We want the Iranian regime to behave like a normal nation, 12:40.810 --> 12:41.643 to take care of their people, 12:41.643 --> 12:44.290 and I think that is what you are hearing and seeing 12:44.290 --> 12:45.528 in these protests that are taking place 12:45.528 --> 12:48.780 in the Islamic Republic of Iran over these past few days. 12:48.780 --> 12:50.339 - And on the Palestinian issue, sir, 12:50.339 --> 12:52.930 with your decision today about the settlement, 12:52.930 --> 12:55.720 in addition to declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel 12:55.720 --> 12:59.210 and the Golan Height under the Israeli control, 12:59.210 --> 13:00.563 do you believe that we're getting closer 13:00.563 --> 13:02.170 to a one-state solution 13:02.170 --> 13:04.649 as the two-state solution is no longer viable? 13:04.649 --> 13:05.840 And how do you bring the Palestinians 13:05.840 --> 13:09.370 to the negotiation table considering your decision today? 13:09.370 --> 13:12.400 - We've had a long time with the policy, 13:12.400 --> 13:13.920 the legal interpretation announced today 13:13.920 --> 13:15.689 being the other way and it didn't work. 13:15.689 --> 13:18.650 That, that's a fact in evidence. 13:18.650 --> 13:20.720 We believe that what we've done today 13:20.720 --> 13:23.110 is we have recognized the reality on the ground. 13:23.110 --> 13:24.990 We've now declared that settlements are not 13:24.990 --> 13:28.030 per se illegal under international law, 13:28.030 --> 13:30.140 and we have provided the very space 13:30.140 --> 13:31.620 that your question suggests, 13:31.620 --> 13:34.250 the very space for Israel and the Palestinians 13:34.250 --> 13:36.720 to come together to find a political solution 13:36.720 --> 13:38.850 to this very, very vexing problem. 13:38.850 --> 13:41.470 We think, in fact, we've increased the likelihood 13:41.470 --> 13:44.938 that the vision for peace that this administration has, 13:44.938 --> 13:48.370 we think we've created space for that to be successful. 13:48.370 --> 13:50.120 I'm hopeful that we'll be able to move forward 13:50.120 --> 13:52.480 on that before too terribly long. 13:52.480 --> 13:53.323 - [Morgan] Courtney. 13:55.410 --> 13:56.854 - Yep. - Sure. 13:56.854 --> 13:58.212 Thank you, just on the-- - Yes, ma'am. 13:58.212 --> 13:59.650 - Practical implications of the decision, 13:59.650 --> 14:01.500 does it, I understand that you're referring 14:01.500 --> 14:03.870 to the decision not to declare these settlements 14:03.870 --> 14:05.521 per se illegal. 14:05.521 --> 14:07.550 Does that also apply to East Jerusalem, 14:07.550 --> 14:10.370 or is that primarily just the West Bank? 14:10.370 --> 14:12.080 - It applies, we're making, 14:12.080 --> 14:14.040 as the President said when he made the decision 14:14.040 --> 14:17.040 about Jerusalem, the final status, those boundaries will be, 14:17.930 --> 14:21.695 will not be determined until the parties reach a resolution. 14:21.695 --> 14:22.528 - [Courtney] And then are you concerned-- 14:22.528 --> 14:23.840 - And so there's no, in that sense, go ahead, yes. 14:23.840 --> 14:25.350 - Are you also concerned about the timing, 14:25.350 --> 14:27.640 given that the deadline for Benny Gantz 14:27.640 --> 14:29.520 to form a government is Wednesday? 14:29.520 --> 14:32.320 Is there a concern about the timing of this announcement 14:32.320 --> 14:34.958 perhaps affecting domestic politics in Israel? 14:34.958 --> 14:37.360 - We've told the team that was doing this review 14:37.360 --> 14:40.410 now for quite some time, we've told them do your work, 14:40.410 --> 14:41.940 do it thoroughly, do it completely. 14:41.940 --> 14:43.810 When we have the analysis correct, 14:43.810 --> 14:45.660 when we reach a final decision, 14:45.660 --> 14:47.730 we will provide that analysis 14:47.730 --> 14:49.100 and we'll share that with the world. 14:49.100 --> 14:51.890 So the timing of this was not tied to anything 14:51.890 --> 14:55.420 that had to do with domestic politics anywhere, 14:55.420 --> 14:56.440 in Israel or otherwise. 14:56.440 --> 14:58.075 This was about we were done, we finished, 14:58.075 --> 14:59.460 we'd conducted our review, 14:59.460 --> 15:01.420 and this was the appropriate time to move forward. 15:01.420 --> 15:02.850 - Okay, thank you sir, one more? 15:02.850 --> 15:03.869 - Yeah, I'll take one more, sure. 15:03.869 --> 15:04.826 - Okay, Shaun. 15:04.826 --> 15:06.120 - Can I have a question-- - Thanks, Mr. Secretary. 15:06.120 --> 15:06.960 - Yes, sir. 15:06.960 --> 15:10.230 - Could I follow up on the Israeli settlements? 15:10.230 --> 15:12.710 What is the message that you are sending to Israel? 15:12.710 --> 15:15.450 You say that, for example, the Reagan administration, 15:15.450 --> 15:17.800 Reagan had a particular view on that, but in terms of the, 15:17.800 --> 15:19.640 and is this effectively a green light? 15:19.640 --> 15:22.350 I mean, Reagan has also said they were an obstacle to peace. 15:22.350 --> 15:24.080 Is there, is this effectively a green light 15:24.080 --> 15:25.670 for Israel to build more settlements if they want? 15:25.670 --> 15:28.330 Will Israel still face criticism for, 15:28.330 --> 15:31.050 as an obstacle for peace if it builds settlements? 15:31.050 --> 15:32.180 And if you will, can I just follow up 15:32.180 --> 15:33.620 on Matt's question as well. 15:33.620 --> 15:34.453 I know you said you 15:34.453 --> 15:35.440 didn't want to talk about the impeachment-- 15:35.440 --> 15:37.450 - No, I said I wasn't going to. 15:37.450 --> 15:38.283 I didn't say I didn't want to. 15:38.283 --> 15:39.680 I said I wasn't going to. - Sure. 15:39.680 --> 15:41.940 - There are things I would dearly love to say about it, 15:41.940 --> 15:43.600 but I don't intend to. 15:43.600 --> 15:44.450 - Just specifically one thing. 15:44.450 --> 15:46.770 When Ambassador Yovanovitch was on the Hill on Friday, 15:46.770 --> 15:48.450 the President made a tweet 15:48.450 --> 15:50.170 right when she was appearing saying that everything, 15:50.170 --> 15:51.720 everywhere that she went turned bad. 15:51.720 --> 15:53.210 Is it an assessment that you agree with? 15:53.210 --> 15:54.097 You've known her. 15:56.610 --> 15:59.160 - Your first question about is this a green light. 15:59.160 --> 16:00.390 Back to first principles. 16:00.390 --> 16:02.560 What we did here was conduct a legal analysis. 16:02.560 --> 16:05.550 We took international law, we had our lawyers review it. 16:05.550 --> 16:08.290 So this was not meant to send a message in any, 16:08.290 --> 16:10.290 you're describing a message about 16:10.290 --> 16:11.190 should there be more settlements, 16:11.190 --> 16:12.050 should there be fewer settlements, 16:12.050 --> 16:13.750 how should Israeli, look at the courts. 16:13.750 --> 16:15.068 This wasn't intended that at all. 16:15.068 --> 16:17.250 This was intended to be a legal review. 16:17.250 --> 16:20.420 We do believe that the result of this legal review 16:20.420 --> 16:21.700 creates the political space 16:21.700 --> 16:26.060 for a more likely resolution of the situation there. 16:26.060 --> 16:29.920 We think ultimately this must be resolved politically, 16:29.920 --> 16:32.550 and we think taking away this impediment, 16:32.550 --> 16:35.940 this idea that somehow there was gonna be 16:35.940 --> 16:38.130 a legal resolution to this, 16:38.130 --> 16:39.630 we think it's flawed, we think it has failed, 16:39.630 --> 16:41.830 and so we do think we have gotten to a place 16:41.830 --> 16:43.760 which creates more likelihood. 16:43.760 --> 16:45.320 And I don't have anything to say, 16:45.320 --> 16:46.940 I'll defer to the White House about 16:46.940 --> 16:48.310 particular statements and the like. 16:48.310 --> 16:49.220 I don't have anything else to say 16:49.220 --> 16:51.430 about the Democrats' impeachment proceeding. 16:51.430 --> 16:53.810 If somebody else has a substantive question 16:53.810 --> 16:56.470 about something that the world cares deeply about, 16:56.470 --> 16:57.700 I'm happy to take it. 16:57.700 --> 16:59.550 - Peace process. - Christina. 16:59.550 --> 17:02.450 - Mr. Secretary, do you have any guidance 17:02.450 --> 17:03.710 or announcement on the peace plan, 17:03.710 --> 17:05.660 the peace process, how that's going? 17:05.660 --> 17:09.010 And you said you'd talk about Ukraine policy, 17:09.010 --> 17:10.820 so I'm curious if you think Ambassador Taylor 17:10.820 --> 17:13.020 has been an effective envoy of that policy 17:13.020 --> 17:14.710 and if he is going to remain in his job, 17:14.710 --> 17:16.580 or if the President has lost confidence in him. 17:16.580 --> 17:18.600 - Yeah, State Department's doing a fantastic job. 17:18.600 --> 17:20.180 I think we've delivered in a way 17:20.180 --> 17:23.150 that the Obama administration has not delivered on Ukraine. 17:23.150 --> 17:24.650 I think the Ukrainian people, 17:24.650 --> 17:25.965 and if you listen to their leadership, 17:25.965 --> 17:29.040 I think they'd think the same. 17:29.040 --> 17:32.710 Your question is, first question was about the peace plan. 17:32.710 --> 17:34.663 When the time is right our vision will come forward. 17:34.663 --> 17:37.720 The Israeli Government's got to find its way. 17:37.720 --> 17:39.240 They've got to get through their 17:39.240 --> 17:40.580 government formation process. 17:40.580 --> 17:42.150 We're, we are hopeful that they will. 17:42.150 --> 17:44.630 And when they do, and the conditions are right 17:44.630 --> 17:46.370 for us to release our vision, we'll do that. 17:46.370 --> 17:48.328 I hope that can be before too long. 17:48.328 --> 17:49.161 - [Christina] And do you still have 17:49.161 --> 17:49.994 confidence in Ambassador Taylor? 17:49.994 --> 17:50.827 - Thanks, everybody. 17:50.827 --> 17:51.738 Have a, have a fantastic day. 17:51.738 --> 17:56.321 (reporters chattering over each other)