Antony Blinken, secretary of state in the Biden administration stressed the need for an immediate peaceful political resolution of the Israel – Palestinian conflict. It should follow the critical ceasefire put in place after hectic backdoor negotiations, he said.
Antony Blinken stressed that both sides have to realize the costs of not finding a way out of the cycle of reprisals and violence. He was asked if there could be a movement towards an honest political resolution to the crisis.
The Secretary of State had earlier given credit to the Biden administration for its unrelenting and determined behind the scene diplomacy that earned the ceasefire and built the ground for a political solution.
Antony Blinken was speaking days after the Palestinians and Israel agreed to an immediate ceasefire after days of ferocious conflicts that caused the death of hundreds, mostly Palestinians. Maintaining the truce was critical to deal with the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he maintained.
Secretary Of State Antony Blinken Stresses On A Solution Acceptable To All
It was time to build on the ceasefire and move towards reconstruction. It was also even more necessary to build a backdrop of trust that could allow both the Palestinians and the Israelis to live in peace and dignity, said Antony Blinken.
The priority now was to start the process of reconstruction and offer sincere hopes, expectations, and opportunities to the people of both nations.
He evaded the question if the American government would go on with the peace brokered under former President Trump and led by Jared Kushner, former senior adviser at the White House, and also the former president’s son-in-law.
In reply to persistent questions, if the administration would endorse the previous plans, Antony Blinken maintained that things would be studied to ascertain what made sense.
The Secretary of state also said that Hamas has brought only misery in the lives of the Palestinians. Israel had every right to protect itself in the face of repeated attacks on its civilian population.
Blinken will be traveling to the troubled Middle East for a joint meeting that would work towards efforts for a better future for the two nations.
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders too said that an unbiased approach was necessary to resolve the issue. He said American was being neutral in its approach for a resolution.