Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in Israel this morning to discuss the ongoing conflict between the Middle East’s only democracy and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip:
🇺🇸🇮🇱 — VIDEO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi after landing at Ben Gurion Airport earlier, at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at shoring up the cease-fire with Gaza terror groups. pic.twitter.com/zjL5rjoyua
— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) May 25, 2021
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan said he looked forward to “holding productive discussion with [Blinken] in the coming days”:
This morning I welcomed @SecBlinken on his first official visit to Israel. His trip comes at a critical time for Israel and Jews worldwide. America is our closest strategic ally and I look forward to holding productive discussions with him in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/ykx5vHK3Jn
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) May 25, 2021
Blinken also said he’d “work to ensure” that Hamas doesn’t benefit from funds used to rebuild Gaza, which seems just about impossible:
US will make "significant contributions" to rebuilding Gaza, “which I will announce later today,” U.S. Secretary of State Blinken just announced.
He said the United States would “work to ensure that Hamas does not benefit” from the aid.— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) May 25, 2021
Just how are they going to accomplish this?
I just participated in an important meeting with @IsraeliPM & @SecBinken. We emphasized that Israel will do everything to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. We also discussed how to ensure aid money to Gaza will not allow Hamas terrorists to rearm. pic.twitter.com/nr3sT7tci7
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) May 25, 2021
Next stop, Ramallah:
.@SecBlinken is enroute Ramallah in the Palestinian West Bank to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over how to get aid to Gaza run by rivals from Hamas. We are with him as he navigates difficult mission and tries to cement the fragile cease fire MSNBC @NBCNews
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) May 25, 2021
Prime Minister Netanyahu did have this warning for Hamas if the cease-fire is broken:
🇮🇱 — WATCH: Prime Minister Netanyahu at a joint Press Conference with U.S. Secretary of Stage Antony Blinken — “If Hamas breaks the calm and attacks Israel, our response will be very powerful” pic.twitter.com/162neTFuzz
— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) May 25, 2021
And the pair avoided a shouted question on lifting the blockade of Gaza:
At the end of their statements I asked whether they discussed lifting the blockade of Gaza. Neither answered my shouted question. https://t.co/30nPM5o2Gb
— Jennifer Hansler (@jmhansler) May 25, 2021
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