(MENAFN- Hip Hop-24) On Sunday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken begins a Middle Eastern tour that includes Egypt, Israel and Palestine, with the aim of calming tensions between Israel and Palestine.
This is Minister Blinken's first visit to the region since the formation of the last Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu last month.
"Secretary Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank during the period from January 29 to 31," said Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, in a statement obtained by Anadolu Agency.
He added, "With the aim of consulting with partners on a range of global and regional priorities, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iran, Israeli-Palestinian relations, preserving the two-state solution (...) and protecting human rights and democratic values, among other topics."
Price stated that "Blinken will visit the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on January 29 and 30, where he will meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and senior Egyptian officials."
He explained that the visit to Egypt aims to "advance the strategic partnership between Washington and Cairo and promote peace and security in the region, including through joint support for the elections in Libya, and the ongoing political process led by Sudan."
The statement indicated that "Blinken will later travel to Palestine and Israel on Monday and Tuesday."
In Israel, he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and other senior leaders to discuss the United States' continued support for Israel's security, particularly against Iranian threats.
The minister will also discuss deepening Israel's integration into the region, Israeli-Palestinian relations, the importance of the two-state solution, and a range of other global and regional issues, according to the same source.
Price added, "In the West Bank, the Secretary will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and senior officials in the Palestinian Authority to discuss Israeli-Palestinian relations, the importance of the two-state solution, political reforms, and strengthening the US relationship with the Palestinian people and their leadership."
He continued, "With both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the Secretary of State will stress the urgency for both sides to take steps to de-escalate tensions in order to end the cycle of violence that has claimed so many innocent lives. He will also discuss the importance of preserving the historic status quo of the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, in word and deed." .
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Israel and Palestine a week ago.
On Thursday, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Halevi, instructed to raise the "level of alert" of the forces, after the military operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank.
Today, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of 9 Palestinians, including an elderly woman, and the injury of 20 others, including 4 critical cases, during the Israeli incursion into the camp, which lasted for several hours.
According to Palestinian observers, the storming of Jenin camp today is the largest since the Israeli army intensified its almost daily incursions into Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank for months.
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