From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Netanyahu, Blinken meet in Jerusalem to discuss Gaza war
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem to discuss the state of the war in Gaza.
The PMO does not release any details from the one-on-one meeting in its readout, but says it was “long and in-depth.”
Netanyahu greets Blinken with a joke, saying “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“Yeah, it’s been a few weeks,” Blinken responds.
The top US diplomat was last in Israel in early January. The PMO did not release a readout after the January meeting, amid reports that the talks were tense.
Blinken is now meeting with Netanyahu’s aides and members of the war cabinet, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Military Secretary Avi Gil and other top advisers.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi is also participating.
He is set to meet President Isaac Herzog at 3:00 p.m.
The Times of Israel Community.