This past weekend, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the West Bank with the goal of protecting Palestinian civilians while supporting Israel's right to self-defense. A delicate balancing act.
In Ramallah, where the presidential headquarters of the Palestinian Authority are located, Blinken met with Mahmoud Abbas al-Zanoun, President of the Palestinian Authority, to ensure that Gaza's plight has US attention in Blinken’s ultimate goal to a peaceful compromise. But resolution remains elusive.
Israel has stated they will resist ceasefires until the hostages captured on October 7th are released and returned home, continuing their onslaught of Gaza in the meantime. On the other hand, the aging Abbas, who has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005, wants power in Gaza under a quote "comprehensive solution" many interpret as a bilateral treaty of some sorts, but talks have long stalled.
Blinken’s visit comes amidst strong tension in the US, visible in the mass protests seen across major cities, college campuses, and elsewhere. And while it appears he is doing his best to straddle the divide, one point he did not compromise on was the safety of US forces, highlighting that threats on the US are quote “unacceptable” in response to a recent uptick of Iranian-backed militia attacks on US forces.
While Blinken's visits have shown little physical progress in the Israeli-Hamas conflict, the trip shows promise of more U.S. involvement towards an ultimately peaceful solution.
Thanks for listening to this Current2 story, and at the end of the day all we can hope for is a return of peace to the Middle East.
Sources
Israel-Hamas war live updates: Blinken makes surprise visit to occupied West Bank | CNBC News
