Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday, where he will try to lessen the growing tensions in the Middle East. The secretary of state plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog to discuss the present and future of the Gaza Strip.
The White House has been encouraging the Israeli government for weeks to moderate its stance a little within the framework of a war with Hamas that recently turned three months old.
Even as we focus on immediate goals, we also must work toward enduring peace and security.
The United States has a vision for a regional approach that delivers lasting security for Israel and a state for the Palestinian people.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 8, 2024
"It has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move. Bibi's got a tough decision to make," Joe Biden said about Netanyahu on December 13 at an event with donors.
At the same time, regarding the strategy used by Israel to combat terrorists, he was concerned about the repercussions it is having on public opinion. "They have to be careful. The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight. We can't let that happen," he added.
Blinken landed in Tel Aviv
In this context, to which was added the death of Hamas number 2 in Lebanon, Blinken scheduled a last-minute trip to the Middle East, where he will visit the West Bank, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as, Turkey and Greece.
Hours before his arrival, the secretary of state expressed himself on his X account, formerly Twitter, where he indicated that "even as we focus on immediate goals, we also must work toward enduring peace and security."
"The United States has a vision for a regional approach that delivers lasting security for Israel and a state for the Palestinian people," he added.
During his stay, he will hold potentially difficult talks with Netanyahu and Herzog, who have not been very open to taking their foot off the gas regarding the Gaza Strip.
In advance of the trip, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller pointed out that they intend to avoid an escalation of violence on the border that Israel shares with Lebanon. "It is in no one's interest, not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's, for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza," he indicated in statements to the press.
Indeed, hours before Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv, Hezbollah confirmed the death of one of its leaders after an attack by the Israeli army. It was Wissam al Tawil, who, according to AFP, "played a leading role in directing military operations in the south."
