Blinken to visit Jordan and Israel Friday on Mideast crisis tour: State Dept

AFP , Wednesday 1 Nov 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel and Jordan Friday on a new crisis trip, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Wednesday.


US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

 

The top US diplomat will meet with leaders of the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Miller.

"He will reiterate US support for Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law and discuss the need to take all precautions to minimize civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance," Miller told reporters.

Blinken also spent time in Jordan during a trip last month following the outbreak of the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, where he and US President Joe Biden have spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Jordan, whose relations with Israel have sharply deteriorated over the Israeli war on Gaza, said earlier Wednesday that it was summoning its ambassador to Israel to protest the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe caused by the ongoing Israeli war.

Asked about Jordan's move, Miller said of the US, "We share the concerns they expressed about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza."

"But ultimately, we believe that increased diplomacy is important and steps to reduce diplomatic channels aren't productive to our long-term shared goals and promoting a long-term solution to this crisis," Miller said.

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