US pledges ‘ironclad’ commitment to Israeli security
Jerusalem, Jan 31 (EFE).- The United States pledged its “ironclad” commitment to the security of Israel on Tuesday after US secretary of state Antony Blinken met with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant in Jerusalem.
“We are united. Our commitment to Israel’s security remains and will remain ironclad,” Blinken said in a statement ahead of his meeting with Galant.
“We have a lot on our hands in this moment and so I couldn’t see you at a better time,” the US official added.
Blinken’s tour of the Middle East comes at a time when tensions have escalated between Palestinians and Israelis after 10 Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military incursion in Jenin on Thursday. It was the deadliest incident in the West Bank in recent years.
In response to the growing tension, Israel’s government has announced a raft of fresh measures, including making it easier to demolish the homes of Palestinians involved in attacks, reinforcing military and police units, and expanding arrests and operations to confiscate illegal weapons.
According to a statement from Israel’s defense minister, Galant and Blinken discussed flaring regional tensions and cooperation amid threats posed by Iran.
“Your visit to Israel comes at a critical time and sends a clear message to our adversaries and partners in the region: the US and Israel are united against the Iranian threat and against anyone who tries to destabilize the region. We completely agree with the fact that Iran must not be allowed to obtain military nuclear weapons,” Galant said.
The Israeli official added that deepening regional ties and expanding cooperation with new partners that face common challenges, alluding to Israel’s strategic alliance with Arab countries in the region like the United Arab Emirates, was a priority to improve regional stability.
This was Blinken’s second day in Israel and the US official is expected to meet with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas later on Tuesday in the occupied West Bank.EFE
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