US: ‘Mideast Countries Want Peace With Israel In Exchange For Palestinian State’
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel late Monday after announcing that countries in the region are willing to normalize relations with the Jewish nation under the condition that it will lead towards a Palestinian state.
Blinken made the remarks after meeting with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia after talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the oasis town of Al Ula, he said he discussed the region’s future, and there was broad agreement on a few objectives
“There’s a clear interest in the region in pursuing that, but it will require that the conflict end in Gaza, and it will also clearly require that there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state,” Blinken stressed.
“But the interest is there, it’s real, and it could be transformative.”
He said critical Arab states and Turkey had agreed to begin planning for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza once Israel ends its war against Hamas, which it views as a terrorist organization.
The secretary of state explained that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey “agreed to work together and to coordinate our efforts to help Gaza stabilize and recover, to chart a political path forward for the Palestinians and to work toward long-term peace, security, and stability in the region as a whole.”
On his fourth trip to the Middle East in three months, Blinken will try to convince the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to begin serious negotiations on postwar governance in Gaza, to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, and to allow more aid into the territory.
PROTECTING CIVILIANS
“I will press on the absolute imperative to do more to protect civilians and to do more to make sure that humanitarian assistance is getting into the hands of those who need it,” Blinken said.
He added that the administration was also focused on recovering the remaining American, Israeli, and other hostages in Gaza.
There have been mounting tensions between Washington and Israel over the war amid concerns about the reported humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims about 23,000 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the enclave.
The Israeli government says it targets mainly Hamas fighters but accuses the group of using civilians as human shields.
Israel launched its military operations following the Hamas October 7 massacre of some 1,200 people in Israel.
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