US Would Oppose Evictions Of Palestinians, Incitements To Violence
Blinken makes US continued commitment to two-state solution clear
While most immediately focused on addressing the “urgent needs” stemming from the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Palestinian Gaza, the United States longer term will be focused on trying to prevent provocations from either side which would derail what remains an end-goal of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people.
That's according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is traveling this week across the Middle East, meeting separately with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Among the those actions which the United States would oppose as undermining progress towards that ultimate two-state solution would be: further evictions of Palestinians, or construction of settlements on Palestinian territory by Israelis, or incitements to violence or payment of terrorists by Palestinians.
(The Hamas organization holds political influence with the Palestinian people, but the United States designated it as a terrorist organization.)
Blinken's visit comes after an 11-day surge in deadly fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinians, which has now ended due to a cease fire.
That latest round of fighting has triggered a grave humanitarian situation for the Palestinians living in Gaza.
“So first, let me take a step back for a minute, because we’re focused right now on responding to as I said the urgent needs that exist in Gaza on the humanitarian basis, the urgent needs for rebuilding and reconstruction, and then looking to see actions on the part of both Israelis and Palestinians is that will take down tension and try to remove or minimize some of the potential catalysts for a renewed cycle of violence," Blinken said. "And building on that, try to in very practical and material way start to improve people’s lives and add a real sense of dignity and hope.
“If that happens — and that will take some time — that may I think produce a better environment in which ultimately there’s a possibility of resuming the effort to achieve a two-state solution, which we continue to believe is the only way to truly assure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state and, of course, to give the Palestinians the state that they’re entitled to,” Blinken added.
Each side — Israelis and Palestinians — have responsibilities to maintaining peace and staying on the track towards an ultimate two-state solution, the American secretary of state said.
"I say all of that because any steps that either side takes that either risk sparking violence or over time, and ultimately undermine the prospect for returning to the pursuit of two states, we oppose. And that includes settlement activity. It includes demolitions. It includes evictions. It includes incitement of violence. It includes payment to terrorists. All of those things would, I think, on the one hand potentially be catalysts for renewed tension and potentially violence and certainly undermine the prospects of achieving two states,” Blinken said. “And that’s something that we’ve been very clear about in our conversations with Israelis and Palestinians alike.”