Im happy to send you an email with the accomplishments. We have been working hard trying to get the middle east to be a more stable, prosperous region. Obviously these attacks on october 7th were horrific, and the israelis have a right and responsibility to respond to those attacks. I think everybody understands that. And so we also understand that the focus of countries in the region, particularly israel, is going to be on that. Its our focus, too. But that doesnt mean we are going to give up. It doesnt mean we are going to walk away from it. We still believe in the promise of a twostate solution and still going to work for that. As a matter of fact, key to eventually getting a twostate solution and we are going t focus on that as well. The twonation, i feel like enough to win the war knowing what the president was aiming to to bring normalization through two states, and that has been put down i just told you, sir. No change in our desire to see a twostate solution. No change to get normalization between saudi arabia and israel, but we are not blind to reality, israel is fighting against Hamas Terrorists and we are trying to help them do that. The focus of the region is whats going on and right now the president s focus, appropriately, sir, trying to prevent to widen and deepen the conflict, to deter a larger war so we can get back to the table and move forward on key diplomatic steps. Thank you, thank you. Try to keep john as long as we can. But the president is going to be starting his event pretty soon. If folks have additional questions, im happy to take them. On the state visit, was there any thought of postponing because of the war in the middle east and more broadly, any concern that such a celebration would come off as a little tone deaf considering all the suffering both in israel and gaza . Appreciate the question and obviously we have seen some of these reportings. We believe theres no more important time than now to have the this state visit with the with the australians, and to demonstrate, of course, our strength and partnership and alliances, right, as we continue to have conversations with our partners, have conversations with our allies, right. As we are continuing to see the invasion that continues in ukraine. So having these conversations with one of our allies like australia is incredibly important. And so thats what you are going to see. You are going to see two leaders come together, to talk about the partnership they are hoping to put, continue to put forward. And so look, it doesnt stop the work the president has continued to do, whether its these diplomatic conversations, these important bilateral visits or whether its domestic issues here in the country. So the president as he has been doing is going to continue to do the work as the president , of the commander in chief. Uaw expanded its strike today. Is it time for gene sper ling and acting secretary su to be on the ground in detroit . They have been to detroit in the past couple of weeks. They have been closely engaged with uaw and the big three. That continues. Obviously they are not part of the negotiation, they are offering assistance that the big three or uaw may need. We believe, the president believes Collective Bargaining is incredibly important to both sides to come together and have negotiations, those conversations, and we are here to assist in any way, and we have been. We have been doing that. But again, Collective Bargaining so there is, you know, hopefully there is a winwin agreement and if its done its in good faith. We have seen it in the past two years under this Administration Work out in different scenarios, and seas what we are hoping continues. Will the president talk about the person in detroit stabbed to death . Our hearts go out to the family there. Its devastating, devastating news story, the president obviously is just like everyone else is paying close attention and saw those reports. I dont have anything else to add. Obviously the Investigation Continues and we are willing to assist in any way. I dont have anything else beyond that. What is the level of concern right now about potential rise of antisemitism in light of everything thats going on in israel . So, a couple of things. Look, we have not seen any Credible Threats. I know theres always questions about Credible Threats and so just want to make sure thats out there. But look, muslim and those perceived to be muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hatefueled attacks and President Biden understands loved ones and neighbors are worried about the hate directed at their communities, and that is something you heard the president speak to in his address just last thursday and so one of the things the president has done is directed his team, Homeland Security team to prioritize prevention and emerging threats to harm any community and that is something the president has sought to do and since day one, as you know, the president Ran On Bringing protecting communities, bringing people together, protecting the soul of the nation, and so that is something that the president takes very, very seriously. And we are going to continue to denounce any sort of hate towards any american here. And so thats what we are going to be steadfast on. He has advised, directed his Homeland Security team to make sure they are on top of this. Are there specific deliver rables you are hoping to get out of the australian meeting or more of a consultation. We will have more on the agenda, i dont want to get ahead of the deliverables on wednesday, but we have the background calls nsc leads and well have more on the priorities and agenda and what we are looking to do. I know john kirby addressed the protests on College Campuses and i appreciate that the president respects First Amendment rights to protest. But does the president view antiisrael protests and sentiment on College Campuses as antisemitism . Look, im not going to get into whats happening across the country at different universities. Not going to get into the specifics as the admiral said, the First Amendment right and peaceful protest is part of our democracy, being able for folks to be able to express their feelings. Im not going to get into any specifics on that. The president has been very clear in wanting to make sure that jewish americans, wanting to make sure that arab americans, muslims are protected here. What he believes in, that they have the right to live their lives and feel protection and able to be part of a community. The president had been very, very clear on denouncing any type of violence and so as it relates to peaceful protesting, people have the right to do that. But we are just not going to get into blow by blows of whats going on across the country. The president has been very clear, very clear. Not blow by blow but the president himself said silence is complicity. So antisemitism letters sent by students or protests of course the president is against antisemitism, of course. This is the president that you have heard me say is wants to protect communities. Whether its the jewish community, the arab american community, palestinian community, he is going to speak out against antisemitism, too. You asked me about protest talk to the protestors youll hear the antisemitism comments we are always going to denounce antisemitism but people have the right to peacefully protest. We in this administration are always going to denounce antisemitism, any form of hate, any form of hate, whether its against the jewish community, right, antisemitism against the muslim community, arab american we are going to denounce any form of hate that comes towards those communities. Peaceful protests, people have the right to do that, but this is an administration obviously, obviously thats going to be very forceful and clear about denouncing antisemitism. New Harvard Harris poll came out which showed that a slim majority, 51 of 18 to 24yearolds in the United States think that the violence in israel can be justified by the grievance of palestinians. I know youve been saying that the president is going to denounce antisemitism. And he has. And he has. Is there anything in particular the administration is planning to do to take this argument to those College Students or those younger generations who seem to be open to the idea that there are two sides to this thing . I dont have anything to lay out on any specific conversations or outreach that the president is going to do to students. As you know, we have an office of Public Engagement here. We have other offices here at the white house that is constantly engaging with communities including the young community. I dont have any specifics to your question on the president s schedule to do that. Way in the back. Karine, when it comes to these different wars, Admiral Kirby made it clear, deterrence, right, and the strike groups in the mediterranean so no one else gets involved. But it seems like our deterrence in russia did not work, deterrence with north Korea Building up its stockpile didnt work. Now here in the middle east our deterrence hasnt worked. What are we doing to make our deterrence actually have teeth . I mean, look, i would look, in ukraine, as you mentioned with russia, the first days of that war or of that invasion, russia was supposed to take down and take over kyiv. And it is because of what this president was able to do to bring together more than 50 nations, allies and partners and also to continue to provide the assistance that ukraine has been now to fight off, right, fight off whats going on in their country. Its been impressive. Youve all reported how impressive the ukrainian people have been. And so that is going to continue. That is a continue to support to ukraine, we put forth the supplemental, the supplemental request last week to hopefully continue to give those Security Assistance to ukraine and look, as it relates to israel, the admiral spoke to that on what we are trying to make sure israel has what it needs to defend itself. And the humanitarian aid that has to go into gaza and that is something, remember the president and admiral said this, the president went to israel, had the conversation with the prime minister, also had conversation with president sisi and look what he has been able to do. We have seen multiple convoys go in and provide a humanitarian aid. Look, we are going to continue as the commander in chief, leader of the free world, of course the president is going to make sure that we are there for our partners and allies. That will continue, that will not end, and thats what you are seeing the president do every day. I want to follow up. I understand you say he has rallied the troops and brought together, but the origin of my question is why arent we doing a better job preventing these wars in the first place . What we are doing, and admiral spoke to this, of course as he talked about the middle east and of course our goal has always been a prosperous middle east, a peaceful middle east. He literally went into speaking about what the goal has been and what we are going to continue to do, make sure that there is peace, right, make sure we bring our allies and partners together. That doesnt stop. But at the same time, right, if russia is going to invade ukraine, we have to be there for ukraine, trying to take over their sovereignty, their democracy. We have to be there for israel as a fight, fighting off a terrorist organization. Innocent people are being killed. And so the president is going to be there for that. And so look, it doesnt stop us, deter us from what we are trying to do more broadly, and having these diplomatic conversation. You saw as i mentioned to unwith of your colleagues, australia is coming, we are going to continue the conversation on ukraine and partners and allies, but look, do the job that is at hand, thats what the president is focused on. Thank you. We havent run really in this briefing, mainly covering Foreign Policy. The president s event he has coming up which is on a domestic investment part of his agenda, does the president see any frustration in the fact that so much of the attention is on Foreign Policy that the domestic agenda is sort of less in the news on a daytoday basis, particularly with whats going on in the middle east, or is that just the reality of the way the world is . It is the reality of where we are and whats being reported by all of you, right. The reality of where we are. Look, but it doesnt stop the president , like you said for today, right, making announcement thats important to the American People. The American People want us to see them delivering whether its the economy, whether its healthcare, whatever issues that is important to them. The president is going to make a big announcement in a couple of minutes that you all have reported, actually has gotten great coverage on what hes trying to do, and will be announcing today. And look, you know, it doesnt stop the president from doing the job he has to do every day and youve seen him do that, whether its Foreign Policy, domestic issues, we try to hit that every day and you hear the president talking about that every day. Incredibly important issues that are top of mind for americans the president is not going to stop talking about. And as you all know, the president has multiple things to do all at once. And thats what you are going to see him do today, what you are going to see him do on wednesday when he welcomes the australia prime minister, and thats what you saw him do last week when you went to israel, and not just that, had conversation with the president of egypt to make sure that things are moving forward and making sure that we are getting that humanitarian aid into gaza. None of that stops, none of that stops. I think i have to go. All right, thanks, everybody. Well see you tomorrow. Thank you, karine. Sandra hanging on for a beat there as she took a question as she was leaving the White House Press briefing and in a moment, the president is expected to make remarks as well. Well see if he comments on the ongoing war in the middle east when he begins to speak. Off the top, john kirby a moment ago, the white house spokesperson making news talking about the american hostages being held. He would not give a certain number on american hostages. He still is classifying, about a handful. At one point he said its as many as ten americans held hostage by hamas, and its a complicated slow situation. Bill the u. S. , he says is not dictating terms to israel on the timing of the gaza ground offensive, which goes a little bit against some of the reporting over the weekend the president was urging israel to go slow, be cautious and work on the Hostage Situation in the meantime. Also the United States has sent a few military advisers to israel. Thats notable. And while that was happening, sergey lavrov, the Russian Foreign minister is in tehran, iran, and made a statement about calling for a ceasefire. Watch how that story develops right now. Sandra and matt miller, spokesperson at the State Department was also giving a briefing simultaneously, Gillian Turner was in the room, able t fire off a question. Here is that exchange moments ago. What is the State Departments assessment about, i guess, what is it in it for qatar, why is it their interest to secure the hostages. Qatar is a long time partner of us i think they believe innocent civilians ought to be freed. Sandra that goes back to the release of the two american hostages last week, the mother and daughter, done through mediation, through qatar. This is these are huge questions at this hour, feels like a lot of the questions are unanswered. Bill the one thing we can answer for now, there is no Ground Invasion that has begun in a significant way in gaza. Thats what we know at the hour. Sandra and john kirby was asked about that, if that is still going to happen and he said thats up to the israelis, they will decide. Fox news alert, the white house has been at it, its been about an hour i should say, hour by hour effort to rescue those held hostage by hamas, but unclear how many are held in gaza. Ten unaccounted for americans and its not clear to us where those ten people are. So i would categorize it as about a handful. And i know thats not the specificity you want, but thats really as detailed as i think i should get today. Bill he also talked about several hundred americans wanting out of gaza, they were there for work or see family or living there. The white house peppered with questions over the humanitarian aid flowing into gaza. Kirby saying they are seeing no evidence that relief aid is being diverted by hamas. Sandra update with our Fox Team Coverage right now, steve on the fight escalating at israels northern border. But first, Lucas Tomlinson is live on the ground in tel aviv for us. Lucas, what do we know about the Hostage Situation . Sandra, Unconfirmed Reports Hamas is weighing a proposal to release 50 hostages that possess dual citizenship. And this comes as israels Defense Minister toured a navy base. He told his forces to be ready to assault gaza. Keep preparing for our operation. It will come soon. We are preparing thoroughly for the next step. A multilateral operation in the air, ground, and sea. Do your work. Get ready. We will need you. Earlier today the Israeli Air Force says it filled five hamas commanders in a strike in gaza. Forces have vowed to hunt down and kill all responsible for the october 7th massacre. A