Courtesy Quds News Network.
August 21, 2024. Quds News network
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the go-ahead to adopt an extreme position in the ongoing negotiations, a move that could stall progress on a potential ceasefire deal. According to Haaretz, an American source revealed that Blinken’s approval of Netanyahu’s hardline approach is seen as counterproductive, potentially undermining the negotiations rather than advancing them.
The implications of Blinken’s actions have raised concerns among mediators and officials involved in the talks. Senior Israeli officials, cited by Channel 12, expressed frustration, noting that Blinken’s quick attribution of blame to Hamas has further diminished the chances of reaching an agreement. The Times of Israel also reported that a senior Arab official from a mediating country criticized Blinken’s statements for inaccurately portraying Hamas as the main obstacle, complicating the negotiations.
Yedioth Ahronoth cited sources close to the negotiations, saying that Blinken’s optimism about the talks was likely motivated by domestic considerations in the United States. These sources also noted that Blinken’s remarks were perceived by Israel as aligning Washington with Netanyahu’s hardline approach, effectively dooming the deal.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Blinken’s comments were understood as Washington supporting Israel’s continued presence in the Philadelphia Corridor, a stance opposed by both Egypt and Hamas. The sources claimed that Blinken’s alignment with Netanyahu has caused significant harm to the negotiations, with some even describing his actions as a “death sentence” for the deal.
