Blinken stresses ‘real concern’ over West Bank violence in meeting with Herzog

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expresses concern over West Bank violence during a meeting in Washington with President Isaac Herzog.

Blinken highlights “the real concern that we have about the violence that we’re seeing in the West Bank and we are urging everyone to take the necessary steps to try to deescalate that violence and to avoid actions or statements that may incite it.”

America’s top diplomat praises the Israel-US relationship, calling Herzog’s visit “a powerful symbol of the enduring partnership between Israel and the United States.”

“We’ve done very good and very important work together over the last couple of years including the truly historic agreement between Lebanon and Israel on the maritime demarcation, something that offers the prospect of benefits to Israel and Lebanon alike,” he says.

Blinken also stresses joint opposition to Iran.

“We are standing together against the dangerous, destabilizing and terrorizing actions that Iran is taking in the region and well beyond the region,” he says.

“The provision of drones by Iran to Russia to enable its further aggression against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is showing horrific results on the ground in Ukraine and it’s something we are determined to stand against,” he adds.

Herzog says the pair will discuss Iran and “the challenges it poses to us and humanity at large” during their closed door meeting.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Iran, the women of Iran,” Herzog says, referring to the ongoing protests there.

“I will be exposing more of the fact that Iranian weapons are being used against civilians in Ukraine,” he adds.

Herzog also says the two will “discuss the integration of Israel in the region and the Abraham Accords as well as the potential openings for Israel in the region.”

He thanks the administration for supporting the Lebanon maritime border deal.

“The relationship between Israel and the United States is as strong as ever,” he declares.