State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told the Associated Press' Matt Lee that she did not have any update as to whether relations between Israel and Turkey have improved since their September "breakthrough" Thursday in the State Department press conference:
MATT LEE: Do you believe that the rapprochement that President Obama -- or -- initiated back earlier this year between Israel and the Turks is progressing in a satisfactory way?
JEN PSAKI: Well, as you know at the time, that was a significant breakthrough in their relationship. We knew it would take some time. You know, our hope is, of course, that they continue to move towards normalizing relations.
LEE: Have they since the president -- since the phone call, are you aware that they've gotten any closer to normalizing relations? Have they even come to a compensation agreement yet on the flotilla incident?
PSAKI: I don't have any update on that for you, Matt.
LEE: So the answer is no?
PSAKI: I don't have any update on that for you. I'm sure they would be announcing specific steps if they had come to an agreement.
LEE: Well, is it -- has it progressed satisfactorily from the administration's point of view?
PSAKI: I don't think we're in the position to evaluate. We --
LEE: Well, you just -- you said it was -- you said it was --
LEE: (Off mic) -- agreement. Sorry, you said -- you said it was a breakthrough.
PSAKI: It was.
LEE: If a breakthrough opens a wall and it immediately hits another wall, is it still a breakthrough?
PSAKI: Matt --
LEE: I -- you know, a breakthrough usually leads to something more than a phone call, right? I mean, it would lead to some kind of tangible improvement in relations, and I'm not sure that there is one. Can you point to one?
PSAKI: Matt, we continue to work with both sides, continue to press them to take steps, and we remain focused on that.
LEE: All right. Is the --
PSAKI: I don't think we need to evaluate it or give it a grade just a couple of months after that.