US insists on two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is in its fourth day as clashes between Jews and Arabs rage in some of the country's mixed cities, as well as in iconic Jerusalem, the epicentre of the new escalation.
Diplomatic efforts led mainly by the United States and Egypt have been crucial to reach an agreement and bring about a cessation of hostilities. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, during an interview on the American television network CNN, underlined the value of the US executive's mediation in achieving a ceasefire after 11 days of heavy fighting.
"We worked very hard behind the scenes to reach a ceasefire, and I think President Biden determined that we could be more effective in this regard, and we finally achieved what everybody wanted, which was an end to the violence," Blinken said. The two-state solution was also reintroduced. "In the end it is the only way to guarantee Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state, and of course the only way to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled", but as the Secretary of State himself explained, it is first necessary to create the conditions that allow both sides to engage in "a meaningful and positive way".
When asked about the Middle East peace plan presented by the previous administration, Blinken avoided commenting, stressing that right now it was necessary to maintain peace and continue on the path of negotiation. He insisted that it was vitally important to engage in a "rebuilding process" and to get both sides "involved in trying to start making real improvements in people's lives, so that Israelis and Palestinians can live with equal security, in peace, and have dignity".
The Biden administration continues to defend Israel's right to "defend itself", and during the interview the chief US diplomat said that "the president has made it clear that we are committed to giving Israel the means to defend itself.... At the same time, any arms sales will be made in full consultation with Congress". This has caused a rift within the Democratic party. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a resolution to try to block arms sales to Israel. On 5 May, the US Congress was informed of a 735 million dollar arms sale to Israel, a week before the outbreak of the conflict.
Bernie Sanders declared in an interview on CBS News that the US should adopt a more "even-handed" approach, "we should be pro-Israel, but we should also be pro-Palestinian". The senator also stressed that the US should lead the world in bringing people together instead of "supplying weapons that kill children in Gaza".
The White House has announced that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin a Middle East tour and visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday as part of Washington's efforts to maintain the truce, Reuters news agency reported.
Blinken's full itinerary is not yet known. The State Department said he would "discuss recovery efforts and working together to build a better future for Israelis and Palestinians". Blinken's Middle East trip will include a visit to Egypt, which brokered the Gaza truce between Israel and Hamas, as well as Jordan.