The Biden administration was working to ease tensions between Israel and the Palestinians after a deadly IDF raid on the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, threatening the agenda of a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken early next week. Was putting
US Assistant Secretary of State for Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said by phone, “Many of us have been on the phone since this morning to see what is happening and to urge coordination and de-escalation between Israeli and Palestinian security forces.” What’s going to happen.” Speaking with reporters previewing Blinken’s trip to Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah from Sunday through Tuesday.
Nine Palestinians were killed in the Jenin raid, including at least one civilian. According to Palestinian media, the remaining fatalities were members of various terrorist groups. The IDF said the operation was necessary to thwart an imminent terror threat and to arrest suspects who have already been involved in attacks against Israel.
But because of the offensive action, the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced that it was prevent security relationships With Israel – coordination that the IDF has long credited with maintaining stability in the West Bank and preventing terror.
Leaf said, “We do not think this is the right step at this time. Far from holding back on security coordination, we believe it is vitally important that the parties continue to, and if anything, deepen security coordination.”
It also expressed its concern over civilian casualties, but accepted Israel’s claim that the Jenin raid was necessary because of the “ticking time bomb of the terrorist threat”.
FILE: Palestinians throw stones at an Israeli military vehicle during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, September 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
While working to maintain ties between Israel and PA leaders was already on the agenda for Blinken’s visit, Thursday’s deadly violence will add to the urgency of the matter.
Relations have already been tense since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the premiership a month ago, bringing with him the most right-wing and religious government in Israel’s history. One of the first steps taken by his cabinet was to impose a series of sanctions against the PA, withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue that Jerusalem collected on behalf of Ramallah in response to the successful Palestinian effort at the United Nations. To weigh in on Israel’s conduct in the jurisdictions.
The US condemned the Israeli sanctions as well as the Palestinian initiative at the United Nations, as both are steps that take the two sides further away from peace.
Blinken will arrive in Israel on Monday less than two weeks after a similar visit by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. That visit also saw his agenda come days before the senior Biden aide’s arrival amid widespread protests against the Netanyahu government’s announced effort to significantly restrict the power of the country’s judiciary.
Although the US initially did not plan to weigh in on the matter, it gradually changed its stance as public outcry grew and Sullivan asked Netanyahu about his coalition proposals during their one-on-one meeting. , a US official told The Times of. Israel.
Leaf told reporters on Thursday that Blinken would discuss the matter during his visit as well. “It is clear that this issue of the Judicial Legislation Package is one that has sparked intense debate within Israeli society… Therefore [Blinken is] Will be interested to hear people’s views on this both inside and outside the government.
Palestinians clash with Israeli forces after an army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin on January 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
On Blinken’s visit, the State Department said the secretary would discuss standard US issues of concern in his meetings with Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and other senior Israeli officials. Those topics included the threat posed by Iran, deepening Israeli integration in the region, Israeli–Palestinian relations, and the importance of a two-state solution.
He will travel to Ramallah on Tuesday where he will meet with Abbas and his senior aides and discuss a range of issues as well as promoting US-Palestinian relations.
“With both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the Secretary will underline the urgent need for the parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions in order to end the cycle of violence that has claimed so many innocent lives. He will also discuss in words and deeds the importance of maintaining the historic status quo of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem. “The Secretary will engage with civil society during the visit to underline our commitment to human rights, support for civil society and the enduring importance of people-to-people ties.”
The State Department said Blinken will be in Cairo on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and senior Egyptian officials to discuss bilateral relations, the Negev Forum, Gaza Strip rehabilitation and other regional issues. Will spend
