(Munich) The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken spoke on Saturday of “an extraordinary opportunity” in the Middle East, linked to the fact that “virtually all Arab countries” wish to eventually normalize their relations with Israel.
“There is an extraordinary opportunity for Israel in the coming months to end this cycle once and for all” of violence, he said in Munich, Germany, during the Security Conference.
“Virtually all Arab countries now want to integrate Israel into the region, normalize relations if they have not already done so, provide security assurances and commitments so that Israel feels more secure.”
These comments come as Israel announced an imminent attack on Rafah, the southernmost town in the Gaza Strip, to hunt down Hamas fighters, despite the massive influx of civilian populations into the area.
Israel has vowed to wipe out the Palestinian Islamist movement, but does not openly discuss the question of the territory’s future after the war.
“There are genuine efforts underway (….) to reform the Palestinian Authority” so that it becomes “a better partner for the future,” assured the American Secretary of State in this regard, referring to “ the imperative” of a Palestinian state.
The United States is working, with Qatar and Egypt, to try to obtain a ceasefire in a war that has lasted since October, to allow the release of Israeli hostages still detained and to transport more substantial humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Antony Blinken notably met in Munich with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who considered it important to work on rapprochement with Saudi Arabia with a view to normalizing their relations.
A rapprochement would mark “a victory over the actions” of Hamas, he said. “I sincerely believe that moving forward towards normalization and making every possible effort is a very important historic opportunity,” he added, calling on all parties “to seize this moment”.
Responding directly to Antony Blinken’s comments on other Arab countries, he admitted that there were “opportunities”, judging that they should “be studied in depth”.
“However, above all else, Israel’s security must be preserved. And for that, we must finish the work of undermining and eradicating Hamas’ basic infrastructure,” he added.
Saudi Arabia recalled at the beginning of the month that it would have “no diplomatic relations with Israel” until a Palestinian state was recognized within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and that “ aggression” in Gaza would continue.
The Saudi kingdom, guardian of Islam’s first holiest sites, did not adhere to the 2020 Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, which allowed its neighbors, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco, to establish official ties with Israel.