(CNN) – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Monday, through the “X” platform, that he discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at the winter camp in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula governorate, “the importance of urgently responding to humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further attacks.” Spread of conflict.
According to the official Saudi News Agency (SPA), the two sides exchanged views on “developments in the regional and international situation, in particular events in and around Gaza, and efforts in this regard.”
The Saudi Crown Prince underlined “the importance of stopping military operations (in Gaza), intensifying humanitarian efforts and working to create the conditions for the return of stability and restoring the path to peace to ensure that the people Palestinian obtain their legitimate rights and achieve a just and lasting peace”, according to SPA.
The US Secretary of State said at a press conference in Saudi Arabia before traveling to Israel that he discussed normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia during a meeting with the Saudi crown prince.
Getting Saudi Arabia to join the so-called “Abraham Accords” was a major focus of the Biden administration before the Oct. 7 attacks, and officials said at the time that some progress had been made.
Blinken added at the news conference: “There is a clear interest in continuing” normalization, and continued: “There is a clear interest in the region in pursuing this goal, but that will require an end to the conflict in Gaza and they clearly require that there is a practical path towards the creation of a Palestinian state.”
He continued: “That’s what I’ve heard from everyone we’ve talked to about this topic. But the interest is there. It’s real.”
Antony Blinken then said, via “X”: “Even as we focus on immediate goals, we must also work to achieve lasting peace and security,” and added: “The United States has a vision for a regional approach that provides permanent security for Israel and a state for the Palestinian people.”
He continued: “This conflict must not expand. We condemn the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea – one of the busiest trade routes – which have led to the disruption or diversion of around 20% of global maritime shipping, and this increases costs and times to transport food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid.” .
2024-01-09 02:16:34
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