Blinken prefers neutrality in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
2023.01.30 09:48
Blinken prefers neutrality in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – During his visit to Israel on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed a long-stalled peace vision as the “only path” forward and said he would urge Israelis and Palestinians to calm their tensions.
Palestinian officials claim that Israeli troops killed a 26-year-old man at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, triggering a new round of violence. According to the army, soldiers fired on the man’s car after he crashed into one of them and tried to get away from an inspection.
Seven people were killed when a Palestinian opened fire in a street near a synagogue on Friday, the worst attack of its kind in the Jerusalem area in more than a decade. Israel is on high alert. This came after 10 Palestinians, mostly gunmen, were killed in an Israeli raid on the West Bank town of Jenin on Thursday.
Before departing for Tel Aviv, Blinken told reporters in Cairo, “There is no doubt that this is a very difficult moment.” Over many months, we have witnessed an increase in the violence that is affecting so many.”
“We will be… encouraging the parties to take steps to calm things down, to de-escalate tensions,” Blinken stated during meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
In 2014, the most recent round of talks sponsored by the United States on creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel stalled.
Abbas, who favors diplomacy, and rival Hamas Islamists who have sworn to destroy Israel share control over the Palestinian territories, and Netanyahu’s new hardline government includes partners who oppose Palestinian statehood.
However, Washington was described by Blinken as “a steadfast believer in the negotiated two-state solution – the only path to a lasting resolution for the conflict.”
According to the Ramallah health ministry, near-daily army raids have killed at least 35 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, since January 1. This makes January the bloodiest month in the West Bank since 2015.
The United States has expressed its support for Israel’s security and the equal dignity of Palestinians.
The actions of so-called “lone wolves,” like the 21-year-old who apparently had no connection to Palestinian militant groups but carried out Friday’s attack, have made it harder to contain the violence.
Following a similar attack on Sunday, Palestinian officials reported that Israeli settlers had thrown stones at a house near Ramallah and set fire to two cars near the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Monday.
Such incidents frequently occur without drawing much attention. However, in the current setting, they have increased the likelihood that violence will escalate.
