The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has made up plans to travel to Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank from January 29-31 to consult with partners on a range of global and regional priorities.
According to the statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price on Thursday, while the global and regional priorities of his visit include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran.
Also, Israeli-Palestinian relations and preserving the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the protection of human rights and democratic values, among other topics.
It stated further that the Secretary will visit Cairo, Egypt from January 29-30, where he will meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry,
And senior Egyptian officials to advance the U.S.-Egypt strategic partnership and promote peace and security in the region, including through shared support for elections in Libya and ongoing Sudanese-led political process.
Also, he will travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah from January 30-31. In Israel, the Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and other senior leaders to discuss enduring U.S. support for Israel’s security, particularly against threats from Iran.
Blinken will also discuss Israel’s deepening integration into the region, Israeli-Palestinian relations and the importance of a two-state solution, and a range of other global and regional issues.
In the West Bank, the Secretary will meet with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas,senior PA officials to discuss Israeli-Palestinian relations and the importance of a two-state solution, political reforms, further strengthening the U.S. relationship with the Palestinian people and leadership.
With both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the Secretary will underscore the urgent need for the parties to take steps to deescalate tensions in order to put an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed too many innocent lives.
He also will discuss the importance of upholding the historic status quo the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in words and in actions.
Lastly, the Secretary will engage with civil society throughout the trip to underscore US’s commitment to human rights, support for civil society, and the enduring importance of people-to-people ties.
Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, while reacting to the Secretary Blinken’s travel plan, said the global priorities includes advancing efforts that will promote human rights, democratic norms.
“And values at the heart of our foreign policy, expanding our economic partnerships, and promoting regional security, stability, and prosperity, including through mechanisms like the Negev Forum”.
Leaf stated further that the Secretary’s trip comes on the heels not only of the National Security Advisor’s visit, but also on the heels of the Negev Forum working groups in Abu Dhabi, which was an event that was pretty remarkable in its own right as the largest gathering of Arab and Israeli officials since the Madrid process.
According to her, “Bahraini, Egyptian, Emirati, Israeli, Moroccan, and U.S. officials who worked to advance projects in these meetings to promote regional integration across a spectrum of areas.
“Including regional security, water and energy security, tourism, food security, health, education, and coexistence. And these are projects that we hope would eventually wrap around the Palestinian people and their economy and benefit them directly as well”, she added.