Video: Blinken to Netanyahu in Israel US welcomes unity government/government press office
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Tuesday night that US President Joe Biden will land in Israel on Wednesday. Blinken's announcement follows an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and after the White House said Biden was considering a visit to the Middle East this week.
Blinken made the remarks at the end of a political-security cabinet meeting he attended, held at the Kirya base. The meeting, which began last night and lasted until the night, was interrupted following sirens sounded throughout the Dan region, forcing its participants to evacuate to a protected area.
Earlier yesterday, Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
Blinken told Netanyahu during their meeting that in order to maintain international support and legitimacy for a longer period of fighting in Gaza, Israel must ensure that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to a senior Israeli official familiar with the details of the meeting. "The Americans understand the need to topple Hamas, but emphasize that in order to achieve this, Israel must make sure that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza," the senior Israeli official said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a joint statement. October 16, 2023/Ministry of Defense, Ariel Hermoni
Blinken at his meeting with Netanyahu, October 16, 2023/Government Press Office, Haim Tzach
The meeting with Blinken comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited US President Joe Biden to visit Israel yesterday. And the White House said it was considering a visit by President Biden to the Middle East this week.
The small cabinet is convening against the backdrop of heavy barrages of rockets fired in the afternoon into the center of the country and at Jerusalem, following which the Knesset plenary session for the opening of the current session was halted. In Holon, a woman was injured by shrapnel. Other significant developments in the war were Hezbollah's firing at IDF positions in the north. Today, the military released documentation of the assassination of the head of Hamas' General Intelligence in Khan Yunis, and of many other attacks in Gaza. The IDF also responded with fire to the sources of fire in Lebanon.
IDF returns fire at sources of fire in Lebanon/Reuters
During the day, and in light of the announcements that a large number of Gaza residents had fled to southern Gaza, several contacts were held in the political sphere. Netanyahu spoke by phone for the first time since the beginning of the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said Putin had spoken by phone earlier today with Iranian President Raisi, Syrian President Assad, Egyptian President el-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant held a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his office in the Kirya. The meeting was attended by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, IDF Chief of Strategy Division Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano and other senior defense officials.
During their meeting, Minister Galant said: "We will win, because the people of Israel must win. We will not stop the war until we bring the achievements and complete the mission that the State of Israel must fulfill."
On a previous visit last week, Blinken said, "I'm coming here not only as secretary of state — I'm coming here as a Jew as well." He welcomed the establishment of the emergency government in cooperation with the state camp and the "unity in Israeli society," and promised: "We will provide armaments and interceptors for Iron Dome. First supplies have already arrived and more equipment is on the way. We will work with Congress so that all of Israel's security needs are met."
- More on the subject:
- Operation Iron Swords
- Gaza War
- Anthony Blinken