NRO:
White House press secretary Josh Earnest refused to reject reports that the White House is mulling economic sanctions on Israel over its West Bank settlement program.
On Thursday, Israeli officials claimed that the White House and State Department held secret meetings to discuss punishing Israel for supporting Jewish settlement construction in the Palestinian territories — an activity the Obama administration views as counterproductive to the peace process.
Fox News’s Ed Henry asked Earnest to confirm or deny the allegations. “Well — I’ve — I’ve been informed of some of these reports,” he said. “And what I can tell you is, I’m not going to talk about an internal deliberations inside the administration, and certainly not inside the White House.”
While asserting the “strong and unshakeable bonds that exist between the United States and Israel,” Earnest said the administration has been “crystal clear about our view of settlement activity,” calling them “illegitimate” and “counterproductive.”
“So very clearly, you’re not denying that sanctions are on the table, against even an ally?” Henry pressed.
“I’m not denying that we have strong concerns about settlement activity that’s underway in Israel,” Earnest replied.
“Well, how can you be telling Congress, ‘Don’t issue more sanctions against Iran,’ at the same time that you’re considering sanctions against an ally in Israel?” Henry asked.
The press secretary refused to comment on reports of White House discussions — leading Henry to suggest that the administration is leaving the door “wide open” for such a move.
“So you’re not considering sanctions?” he asked.
“I’m saying that I’m not willing to talk about those kinds of conversations,” Earnest said.
