Israel-Palestinian tensions simmer as US envoy embarks to solidify ceasefire
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Blinken departed for Middle East trip aimed at consolidating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli forces shot dead a knife attacker in Jerusalem Monday, police said, as Washington s top diplomat departed for a Middle East trip aimed at consolidating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is due to arrive in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning, days after an Egypt-brokered truce halted the conflict between the Jewish state and the Gaza Strip s Islamist rulers Hamas.
Blinken lands in Israel in start of Mideast tour to shore up Gaza truce
Secretary of State is set meet senior Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, as well as Palestinian leader Abbas to discuss funneling of financial aid to Gaza through the PA; Blinken also set to visit Egypt and Jordan during his first official tour of the region
Ynet, Associated Press |
Published: 05.25.21 , 09:07
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday morning at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at shoring up the Gaza ceasefire.
Blinken is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the region since President Joe Biden assumed office in January of this year. His arrival came just days after the end of the 11-day war between Israel and terror factions in Gaza.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on May 25, 2021, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday announced plans to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem that had historically served as the de facto representative to the Palestinians.
Blinken made the comments while meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah,
“As I told both Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and President Abbas, the United States will be moving forward with the process to reopen our consulate in Jerusalem. That’s an important way for our country to engage with and provide support for the Palestinian people,” Blinken told reporters while sitting alongside Abbas, during his first trip to the region as US President Joe Biden’s top diplomat.
Blinken Meets with Israeli, Palestinian Leaders
Voice of America
25 May 2021, 20:35 GMT+10 JERUSALEM - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting Tuesday with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and Palestinian leaders in Ramallah as part of an effort to build on a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that went into effect late last week. Even as we were working with the parties and partners to help reach a ceasefire, we were also focused on the road ahead, including steps we could take to build a better future for Israelis and Palestinians, Blinken said as he departed for what is a multi-nation visit to the Middle East. It is his first time going to the region as the top U.S. diplomat.