(CNN) – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, on Monday, via the “X” platform, that he discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the winter camp in Al-Ula Governorate in Saudi Arabia, “the importance of urgently responding to the 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, especially the events in Gaza and its environs, and efforts regarding them.”
The Saudi Crown Prince stressed “the importance of stopping military operations (in Gaza), intensifying more efforts at the humanitarian level, and working to create conditions for the return of stability and restoring the path of peace to ensure that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights and achieve just and lasting peace,” according to SPA.
The US Secretary of State said in a press conference in Saudi Arabia before going to Israel that he discussed normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia during a meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince.
The possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the so-called “Abraham Accords” was a major goal of the Biden administration before the October 7 attacks, and officials said at the time that some progress had been made.
Blinken added at the press conference: “There is a clear interest here in continuing” normalization, and he continued: “There is a clear interest in the region in pursuing this, but that will require ending the conflict in Gaza and it will also clearly require that there be a practical path to the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
He continued: “This is what I heard from everyone we talked to about this topic. But the interest is there. It is real.”
Antony Blinken later stated, via “X”: “Even when 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 lanes – which led to the disruption or diversion of approximately 20% of global shipping, and this increases the cost and time of transporting food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid.” .
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2024-01-09 02:16:34
