From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Blinken: Neither Israel, Hezbollah looking for war; Gaza ceasefire best way to end clashes
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sticks to longheld administration talking points regarding Israel-Hezbollah tensions when asked whether he’s concerned about the significant escalation over the past day since the IDF killed a senior commander of the Iran-backed terror group.
He responds that “no one is looking to start a war, to have escalation,” and that most believe a diplomatic resolution is the best path to ending the conflict.
Such a resolution must allow the return of the 60,000 Israelis forced to evacuate their homes as well as those in Lebanon who were compelled to do the same, Blinken says during a press conference from Doha.
He stresses that securing a ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to wind down the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
“It will take away a justification that Hezbollah has claimed for the attacks it has been engaged in and open a pathway to actually resolve this diplomatically. That’s what we’re determined to do,” Blinken says.
The Times of Israel Community.