By Yoni Kempinski, Israel National News—
In advance of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the region, a senior State Department official says that the Biden administration is “relieved” that the violence has ended.
He told reporters that they worked behind the scenes to establish the ceasefire.
“We appreciate the roles of Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, and others,” says the official.
The Biden administration is “committed to all efforts for an everlasting peace.”
The most important thing is that the ceasefire holds. “We don’t want to return to the bloodshed.”
“We’re going to work with UN and PA to make sure relief assistance goes to the citizens of Gaza, to the people who need it the most,” he says.
When asked how the US government could work with the PA, which doesn’t control Gaza, he notes that they are presently working with the UN to create a “formula” to work with the PA.
“We’re working through the UN to try to create a formula that will work with the PA,” he says. “We don’t talk with Hamas. We hope that the PA will be able to act in Gaza.”
The US remains committed to the two-state solution. They aren’t wavering from that position, but the official says that it is premature to invite Israel or the PA for talks.
“The Secretary will be meeting the parties and hearing them and at this point focus on making sure the ceasefire holds,” he says. Continue Reading…