Blinken wants to "rebuild" link with Palestinians and "defend" Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem on May 25, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
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Jerusalem first, Ramallah then: Antony Blinken met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Tuesday on his first eastern tour.
The new US secretary of state has come to the region in hopes of consolidating the ceasefire reached last week between armed groups in Gaza and Israel.
But he also laid the foundation for the Biden administration's vision of the conflict.
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With our special correspondent in Jerusalem,
Guilhem Delteil
It was urgency that dictated Antony Blinken's visit.
The US Secretary of State began this express regional tour four days after the guns fell silent.
There is no question for him to publicly evoke a possible initiative to relaunch the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
After deadly clashes, the prospect is too distant.
The immediate goal is to avoid further fighting.
But in order for the calm to become lasting, the underlying problems must be tackled.
And while reaffirming Israel's right to defend itself, while strengthening US military aid to the country, Antony Blinken also insisted on the Palestinians' right to live in peace and the legitimacy of their aspiration for freedom.
► See also:
In Jerusalem, Blinken wants to prevent Hamas from “benefiting” from aid in Gaza
During this whirlwind trip, Antony Blinken turned the page on the Trump era.
The previous administration had adopted a very pro-Israel policy: it focused on rebuilding trust with the Palestinians.
And if the time is not for the relaunch of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Secretary of State affirms that the fighting of the last days encourages him "
to redouble
" his efforts "
to preserve the peace
".
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Israel
Israelo-Palestinian conflict
Gaza
United States