US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wants to campaign for a de-escalation in the conflict with Israel at the last stop of his trip to the Middle East on Tuesday. Among other things, a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank is planned. Blinken is likely to urge the head of the Palestinian Authority to continue working with Israel to contain attacks by militant Palestinians.
After the latest Israeli raid on the West Bank that left ten dead last week, Abbas announced that he would end security cooperation with Israel.
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians had recently come to a head. Since the beginning of the year alone, 35 Palestinians have been killed, including assassins and fighters, but also civilians and children. An attack on a synagogue on Friday killed six Israeli civilians, including a child, and a Ukrainian. Another attack followed on Saturday, in which a 13-year-old Palestinian seriously injured two Israelis in East Jerusalem.
Before his meeting with Abbas, Blinken met with new Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday. Gallant commended Blinken for his “steadfast support” in securing Israel’s military superiority in the region.
After his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Blinken urged both sides to take “urgent steps” to end the escalation of violence. Washington would help “restore a sense of security” that “both Israelis and Palestinians” long for.
has/cp
