US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are having a "private meeting" in Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office says.
Further down the structure, an expanded session would involve some other notable personalities: the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Chief-of-Staff to the Prime Minister, Deputy Director of the National Security Council, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Persons, United States Ambassador to Israel, and Prime Minister's Spokesman.
A three-day visit to Egypt and Israel by Blinken is to push forward the "intensive diplomatic efforts" of Washington toward reaching an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees, based on a US-backed bridging proposal that includes American, Egyptian, and Qatari support.
According to the State Department, this effort will help achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and broader regional stability.
Earlier, Blinken met with the Israeli President Isaac Herzog as part of his ninth visit to the region since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack against Israel.
Herzog explained the situation, referring to the recent terror attacks and different kinds of violence. He mentioned a case of terror in Tel Aviv a few days ago, Hizballah terrorists, and stressed the absolute necessity of bringing Israeli hostages home and the resilience of the people of this nation in the fight against terror.
He, further to this point, emphasized the importance of an immediate cease-fire and that actions could not be allowed to undermine the chances of success of the current diplomatic effort. The US, he added, was committed to preventing any further escalation and, if necessary, responding to attacks against its interests—whether from Iran, Hizballah, or other forces. He emphasized that US forces have been positioned to deter and defend against any threats.
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