Good Cop Blinken Tells Israel to Keep Two-State Solution on the Table

This is just absurd.

US offers “unconditional support,” then says “maybe you could just do the opposite of everything you’re doing, which we support unconditionally?”

Reuters:

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his latest mission to rein in the Gaza war, told Israeli leaders on Tuesday there was still a chance of winning acceptance from their Arab neighbours, if they create a path to a viable Palestinian state.

On his fourth trip to the region since October in a so far largely fruitless quest to tamp down the violence, Blinken said he would share what he had heard in two days of talks with Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Antony Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, January 8, 2024.

Blinken met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was then due to speak with members of the war cabinet formed in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants, which Israel says killed 1,200 people.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, destroyed much of Gaza and displaced most of the population of 2.3 million, creating a dramatic and worsening humanitarian crisis.

Blinken had already said he would raise the “absolute imperative” to do more to protect Gaza’s civilians and let humanitarian aid reach them. His boss, President Joe Biden, said overnight that Washington was quietly pushing Israel to withdraw some forces.

Blinken’s meetings around the region have focused on seeking a longer-term approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict to help end the Gaza war. After his meetings with Arab allies, he said they wanted integration with Israel – also a long-term Israeli aim – but only if that included a “practical pathway” to a Palestinian state.

“I think there are actually real opportunities,” he told his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz on Tuesday.

“But we have to … ensure that October 7 can never happen again and work to build a much different and much better future.” He was due to hold a press conference in the early evening.

With U.S. support, Israel established diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020 and was working to do the same with Saudi Arabia until the Gaza conflict broke out.

Israel’s relentless bombardment and restrictions on aid supplies have prompted South Africa to file a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocidal actions. Hearings begin on Thursday.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Blinken there was “nothing more atrocious and preposterous” than that court case, noting that Hamas is sworn to Israel’s destruction.

It would be funny if the ICJ convicted Israel of genocide, but it’s not like it’s enforceable.

The only thing that matters now is that the world sees how evil the Jews actually are.

Blinken might have to make an emergency flight home to explain the tunnel system and the filthy stained mattress.

Antony Blinken and Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, January 9, 2024.