Chicago: Leaders of several Arab-American organizations met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday to express concern over rising violence between Israelis and Palestinians and demanded that the Israeli government be held accountable.
Over the past four weeks, more than 29 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds have been seriously injured. Several Israeli Jews were killed on Friday, reportedly by a suspected Palestinian gunman.
Blinken plans to travel to the Middle East on Sunday, January 29, and then meet with Israeli leaders on Monday and Palestinian leaders on Tuesday. He is the second member of the Biden administration to visit the region in the past two weeks. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was there two weeks ago.
Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute – AAI – one of the leaders who attended the briefing with Blinken in Washington DC, said the group called for imposing “consequences” on the Israeli government for violent actions targeting Palestinian civilians. Pressed the secretary for
“We were happy for the opportunity to convey our views to the secretary, but the emphasis was on the need for results,” Zoghbi told Arab News.
“Absent consequences for bad behavior, Israel acts with impunity and Palestinians have lost hope. We made specific suggestions on things they can do. Consequences matter. Pay Israel for bad behavior.” should do.”
Zoghbi said the group also pressed Blinken on the issue of building a US embassy in Jerusalem, noting that the land on which the embassy is being built is owned by Palestinians, including Palestinian Americans.
In a statement the group said that Blinken’s planned trip “was being affected by the recent Israeli undercover military raid in Jenin, which resulted in the deaths of 10 Palestinians, including civilians.”
Members of the delegation also expressed concern about US policy objectives and the large-scale displacement of Palestinians in Palestine, not only in Jenin but also from Masafar Yatta in the West Bank.
“The group made it clear to the Secretary that the United States has a responsibility to stop Israel’s aggressive behavior toward captive Palestinians. Decades of US acceptance of Israeli policies of settlement expansion, land confiscation, home demolition, and other human rights violations have led to an anti-Israel sentiment and a sense of Palestinian hopelessness, the statement said.
“If the administration is to fulfill its commitment to the equal value of Israelis and Palestinians and their rights to security, prosperity and dignity, the group stressed that the secretary demonstrate firmness and resolve to restrain Israeli behavior Huh.”
Other issues raised during the meeting included Israel’s application for the US Visa Waiver Program. The program allows Israeli citizens easy access to travel to the US but Arab leaders argued that Israel made it extremely difficult for Arab-Americans to travel to Israel.
“Last year, Israel published military regulations regarding its restrictions on visitors to the West Bank, which clarify that US citizens are discriminated against in entering the West Bank if they intend to visit Palestinians. There is no such restriction on visiting Israelis.
State Department Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf provided details of Blinken’s planned visit during a briefing late Thursday.
“On January 29 to 30, the secretary will travel to Cairo, where he will meet with President al-Sisi, Foreign Minister Shoukry, as well as senior Egyptian officials. In those meetings, we expect he will underscore our commitment to advancing our strategic partnership with Egypt and working with Egypt to promote peace and security in the region, whether that means supporting elections in Libya. continue to lead the political process in Sudan, or work to ensure peace in the Gaza Strip,” Leaf said.
“In Cairo, Secretary will meet with Egyptian youth leaders and Egyptian human rights defenders to underscore our commitment to human rights and our continued support for civil society and, of course, the enduring importance of people-to-people ties between us . countries.
Leaf said Blinken would travel to Jerusalem and Ramallah from January 30-31.
“In Jerusalem, he is going to have the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and of course, the Prime Minister is just one month into his term as Prime Minister. He will also meet the Foreign Minister and other senior leaders of Israel.
“In those meetings, the secretary will highlight the special nature of the 75-year bilateral relationship with Israel and our commitment to Israel’s security and democracy. He will also underscore the United States’ commitment to countering the continuing spectrum of threats Iran poses to Israel, the United States, and the wider region, and ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Other groups represented during the meeting with the AAI were Amidst, the Palestinian American Congress, the Arab Center of Washington DC, and the Al-Bireh Society.