(NewsInsights.org) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited five Middle East destinations in four days beginning on Friday, November 3, hoping to staunch the flow of diplomatic departures from Israel and lay the groundwork for negotiations to preserve civilian lives in Gaza. Yet despite his visits to Israel on Friday, Jordan on Saturday, Ramallah (in the West Bank) and Iraq on Sunday, and Türkiye on Monday, Blinken ended his trip through the region without any tangible agreements in place.
On November 3, in meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials, Blinken lobbied for rolling temporary pauses in the hostilities to ease humanitarian aid and encourage hostage releases. Yet Israeli officials flatly rejected the concept, insisting attacks would continue until Hamas releases hostages.
Blinken met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on November 4 as they called for an immediate ceasefire. Jordan officials have accused Israel of moving from defense to persecution of the civilian population in Gaza, committing war crimes. They’ve repeatedly called for a two-state solution to quell hostilities between Palestine and Israel. On Wednesday, November 1, Jordan recalled its ambassador to protest Netanyahu’s decision to continue bombing Gaza and the West Bank, endangering many of the 2.3 million inhabitants.
Using early-morning darkness as cover, Blinken secretly traveled to Ramallah on the West Bank to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President, on November 5. Abbas has held little influence over Gaza since Hamas won popular election there in 2007, seizing control of the West Bank.
Evening darkness camouflaged Blinken’s flight to Iraq, where he met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. The US diplomate characterized the meeting as “productive.” The Secretary hoped to prevent regional escalation of hostilities.
Finally, on November 6, Blinken flew to Ankara to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recalled Türkiye’s ambassador from Israel the previous day out of frustration over Netanyahu’s refusal to abide by international law or UN resolutions demanding a ceasefire for humanitarian purposes.
While surrounding countries called for a truce and Israel refused to halt hostilities until Hamas produces hostages, Blinken has planted seeds for an accord in seemingly barren ground.
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