BLINKEN REAFFIRMS ‘UNWAVERING SUPPORT’ FOR ISRAEL
▶ Extraordinary opportunity to normalise ties with Arab countries, US Secretary of State says in Munich
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated his “unwavering support” for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday while taking part in a panel discussion with the German and Indian foreign ministers.
More than 28,900 Palestinians have been killed in the densely populated enclave since Israel launched its air and ground assault following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7 when Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted about 240.
The US has been Israel’s biggest ally throughout the war, twice vetoing UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire and sending weapons and ammunition to the Israeli military.
But as the war has dragged on, calls for a ceasefire have amplified both domestically and abroad. Speaking just before Mr Blinken at the security conference, Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for a ceasefire and an “accelerated state of Palestine”.
Mr Wang said that “generations of Palestinians have been displaced”.
Addressing the Munich Security Conference, Mr Wang said that recent events proved that “the question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East”.
Mr Blinken, seated alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said he believes a path forward that includes Israel’s integration into the region is still possible.
“I think there’s an extraordinary opportunity for Israel in the months ahead … starting with the fact that virtually every Arab country now genuinely wants to integrate Israel into the region to normalise relations if they haven’t already done so,” Mr Blinken said.
The secretary has made five trips to the region since October 7.
On recent visits, he has been pushing for Israel to reduce civilian casualties and to allow
Mr Blinken has been pushing for Israel to reduce civilian casualties and to allow more aid to reach those in need
more aid to reach those in need.
Despite his efforts, Israel’s military campaign continues unabated and appears to be bearing down on Rafah, a city whose prewar population of about 280,000 has swelled to more than 1.4 million people, as Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes elsewhere in Gaza.
Washington has said Israel should not embark on a military campaign in the southern city until it has put together a detailed plan on how to protect civilians.