Blinken in Israel to Urge End to ‘Rising Tide of Violence’ with Palestinians

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Monday to urge a de-escalation in deadly violence that continues to fester in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel is reeling from a terror attack last week that killed seven civilians outside an ultra-Orthodox synagogue in east Jerusalem, a day after an Israeli raid in the West Bank claimed the lives of 10 Palestinian terrorists.

Blinken arrived in Israel on the second leg of his Middle East tour, after meeting Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the north African country’s foreign minister in Cairo.

Foreign Minister Shoukry and I discussed the U.S.-Egypt partnership, the mounting consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and U.S. support for Egypt as it responds to global challenges. pic.twitter.com/NBa1Kve8iM

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 30, 2023

On arrival in Tel Aviv, Washington’s top diplomat condemned those who celebrated the east Jerusalem violence and “any other acts of terrorism that take innocent lives.”

Celebrations were seen across multiple Palestinian towns after the Friday attack, while extremist groups in Gaza called it a “heroic” act.

“It’s the responsibility of everyone to take steps to calm tensions rather than inflame them,” he said. “That is the only way to halt the rising tide of violence that has taken too many lives – too many Israelis, too many Palestinians.”

Our thoughts are with the Israeli people following the terrorist attack in Jerusalem. It is particularly tragic on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We condemn this attack and express our condolences to the victims’ families. May their memory be a blessing.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 28, 2023

Since the beginning of the year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 35 Palestinians – including attackers and civilians. Over the same period, six Israeli civilians, including a child, and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed – all shot dead in the Friday attack.

The United States has historically taken a lead in Middle East diplomacy.

Blinken was due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before traveling to Ramallah in the West Bank for talks with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.