US reaffirms commitment to Israel's security
The Biden administration has found itself hopelessly drawn into the Middle East once again. Joe Biden had focused his foreign policy primarily on two areas: China and climate change, but recent events in Israel have meant that the United States, a major ally of the Hebrew country, has had to get fully involved in the region in the face of a new escalation of violence between Palestinians and Israelis.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed this morning at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, where he was received by Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and US Ambassador to Israel Jonathan Shrier, before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following a closed-door meeting between Blinken and the Israeli Prime Minister, the two issued a joint statement on the issues discussed during the meeting. Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech by thanking the United States for its "determined support for the State of Israel's right to self-defence". The Israeli prime minister also stressed the US's firm commitment to Israel's security, promising to help the country replace the Iron Dome, which in Netanyahu's words "has prevented the deaths of civilians on both sides".
Hamas was another of the issues to be discussed, and the Israeli prime minister made it clear that if tif Hamas breaks the calm and attacks Israel, our response will be very powerful," Mr Netanyahu warned. "And we have discussed ways of how to work together to prevent Hamas rearming with weapons and means of aggression". Despite the fact that Iran was not on the agenda, it was inevitable that the two leaders would talk about a return to the nuclear deal, which seems to be getting closer and closer, and which Israel has repeatedly stated it is totally against.
Finally, and to close his speech, Netanyahu chose to quote US President Joe Biden, stating that "until the region says unequivocally they acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state, there will be no peace." The US Secretary of State began by clarifying that he had decided to make this trip for four main reasons: "first, to demonstrate America's commitment to Israel's security, to achieve greater stability and reduce tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem,to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and to marshal international support for the people in Gaza and in the Gaza reconstruction efforts and to rebuild the relationship with the Palestinian people as well as the Palestinian Authority".
The US Secretary of State emphasised the need to invest in infrastructure in Gaza, as well as in the creation of opportunities and jobs in both the enclave and the West Bank to "foster a more stable environment". In this line, Blinken announced that the United States will initiate a campaign to get the greatest possible international support to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but that all aid will be coordinated with its partners in the region "to ensure that Hamas does not benefit from reconstruction aid", the Secretary stressed.
After the meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Defence Minister Benny Gantz before heading to Ramallah for high-level meetings with Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders, including PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohamad Shtayeh.
During this impromptu Middle East tour, precipitated by the Hamas-US standoff, the US Secretary of State will also visit Cairo, where he will meet with Egyptian President Abdelfatah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri. And finally Jordan, where he is scheduled to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
