From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Senior Biden aide kicks off tour in Europe, Mideast to advance US agenda on Israel-Hamas war
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk has arrived in Brussels, kicking off a series of visits in Belgium, Israel, the West Bank, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan aimed at rallying US allies around the Biden administration’s agenda for the Israel-Hamas war, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson says in a statement.
While in Brussels, McGurk will brief NATO Allies and European Union “partners on a coordinated approach to the current situation in the Middle East, with a focus on significantly expanding humanitarian assistance to Gaza, economic pressure on Hamas and other terrorist groups, and demands to immediately release hostages of multiple nationalities still being held by Hamas,” Watson says.
“In Israel, he will discuss Israel’s security needs, the imperative of protecting civilians in the course of military operations, as well as ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages and the need to rein in violent extremist settlers in the West Bank,” the US readout says.
In the West Bank, “McGurk will discuss the Biden Administration’s support for the Palestinian Authority and its essential role as the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the need for reforms to promote long-term stability in both the West Bank and Gaza and the aspirations of Palestinians to live with equal measures of freedom, security and dignity in a state of their own.”
In the Gulf region, McGurk will discuss efforts to contain the conflict against Hamas, and deterrence against any state or non-state group seeking its expansion as well as US security assistance to our Gulf Cooperation Council partners.
In Doha, “he will also focus on the intensive efforts to secure release of hostages being held by Hamas, including a number of Americans, one of whom is a 3-year-old toddler.”
In Jordan, “he will consult with senior leaders on the Biden Administration’s historic support for Jordan and a viable pathway to a Palestinian state.”
Mr. McGurk will be joined on his trip by Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf, Watson says.
