During a contentious discussion about the Visa Waiver Program at the U.S. State Department press briefing on Sept. 14, Matthew Miller, the department spokesman, fielded questions about whether Israel is treating Palestinian Americans fairly.
Then a reporter asked: “What responsibility for an attack or attacks will the State Department take if someone headed into or out of Gaza exploits this new access and attacks Israeli citizens and tourists?”
“I appreciate you coming and asking questions. I do think that’s a bit of an absurd framing of the question,” Miller said. “We are talking about American citizens and their ability to be treated without discrimination, which is something that we expect.”
“That said, we do work with Israel to ensure their security,” Miller said. “We are 100% committed to the security of the Israeli people, and we work with them on a daily basis to ensure that.”