Blinken: Israel has extraordinary opportunity, ‘virtually every Arab country’ wants ties

There is an “extraordinary opportunity” in the months ahead for Israel to be integrated into the Middle East as Arab countries are willing to normalize ties with the country, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.

Speaking at a panel at the Munich Security Conference, Blinken also highlights the “urgent” imperative to proceed with a Palestinian state that would also ensure the security of Israel.

“Virtually every Arab country now genuinely wants to integrate Israel into the region to normalize relations… to provide security commitments and assurances so that Israel can feel more safe,” Blinken says.

“And there’s also, I think the imperative, that’s more urgent than ever, to proceed to a Palestinian state that also ensures the security of Israel,” he adds.

The Biden administration has been working to secure a mega-deal that will see ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel normalize. The Kingdom and other Arab countries are seeking steps toward the creation of a Palestinian state as part of the deal.

The top US diplomat says there are genuine efforts led by Arab countries to revitalize the Palestinian Authority so it can be more effecting in representing the Palestinians.

Also speaking at the conference, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says that to establish a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, there needs to be a guarantee that something like the October 7 attacks by Hamas can never happen again.