Antony Blinken
The Israeli defense minister says Secretary of State Blinken’s visit “sends a clear message to our adversaries as well as our partners in the region: The U.S. and Israel are united in the need to face Iran.”
The U.S. secretary of state expressed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to Israeli security.
The U.S. diplomat kicked off his Mideast tour in Egypt, where he urged Israel and the Palestinians to restore calm.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday.
The U.S. diplomat’s visit comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
The U.S. secretary of state will also hold a meeting with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.
At the Negev Forum, senior officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. discussed opportunities to advance initiatives aimed at regional cooperation.
The goal of the visit is to “coordinate expectations” between the Biden and Netanyahu administrations.
Jake Sullivan will be the first high-ranking Biden administration official to visit the Jewish state since the inauguration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The secretary of state also “emphasized the continued U.S. commitment to a two-state solution and opposition to policies that endanger its viability,” said the State Department.
“I look forward to working with the new Israeli government to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the region,” said the U.S. secretary of state.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejects BDS and unilateral actions at the U.N., but tells J Street conference the Abraham Accords can be “leveraged” to pressure Israel
