Blinken calls on Israel to work with the Palestinians on a path to statehood

2024-01-09 22:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Blinken calls on Israel to work with the Palestinians on a path to statehood

Anthony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel to take greater steps to protect civilians, allow more aid to be sent to Gaza and work with moderate Palestinian leaders. During his visit to Israel on January 9, he said that the regional states will invest in the reconstruction of Gaza only if there is "a road that will lead to a Palestinian state".

He said it was "clear" that Palestinians should be allowed to return to their homes "as soon as the conditions are right", adding that the US rejects any proposal to move them out of Gaza, something that which the right-wing members of the ruling coalition in Israel have demanded.

While Blinken visited Israel, the country's military continued its offensive in Gaza, including heavy bombing of the territory of 2.3 million people.

The war was sparked after Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union - attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others.

Blinken said he has received promises from the four Arab states and Turkey to help rebuild Gaza after the war. But these states want the fighting in Gaza to stop and concrete steps to be taken toward the eventual creation of a Palestinian state, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to allow to happen.

"Israel must stop taking steps that undermine the ability of the Palestinians to govern themselves effectively," Blinken said during a news conference on Tuesday after meeting with Israeli leaders.

"Israel must be a partner of Palestinian leaders who have the will to lead their people and live side by side in peace with Israel," he added.

According to the top US diplomat, settler violence, settlement expansion, house demolitions and the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes "make it harder, not easier, for Israel to achieve lasting peace and security."

After the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israel retaliated with ground, air and sea attacks on Gaza killing over 23,000 people. According to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-controlled Gaza, two-thirds of the victims were women and children. This ministry does not differentiate between civilians and killed fighters./ Rel