US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel on Wednesday to assist rather than impede the Palestinian Authority, claiming that Israel’s long-term security was at risk.
Blinken reiterated his desire for a “pathway to a Palestinian state” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, despite Washington’s support for Israel’s Gaza campaign in response to the Hamas attack on October 7.
“You’re not going to get the genuine security you need absent that. And, of course, to that end as well, a stronger, reformed Palestinian Authority that can more effectively deliver for its own people has to be part of the equation,” Blinken said.
An effective Palestinian Authority can only operate “with the support, with the help, of Israel, not with its active opposition,” Blinken said.
“Even the most effective Authority is going to have a lot of trouble if it’s got the active opposition of any Israeli government,” he said.
The US has supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s desire to eliminate Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, but has also urged for the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank, to gradually take control of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has always opposed the Palestinian Authority and is skeptical of a Palestinian state.
In one point of disagreement, the United States has pressed Israel to surrender tax funds collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
According to Blinken, the Palestinian Authority is attempting to address basic concerns such as corruption and transparency, which “they can’t deliver on their own without partnership with Israel”.
While without directly answering a question regarding Netanyahu’s hard-right government, Blinken did note that detractors have previously accused the Palestinians of being unwilling to embrace a two-state solution.
“The question now is, is Israeli society prepared to engage on these questions? Is it prepared to have that mindset?” he said.
Fighting has raged in Gaza since Hamas launched unprecedented strikes on Israel on October 7, killing approximately 1,140 Palestinians, according to an AFP calculation based on official Israeli data.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli bombardments and ground assaults have killed at least 24,448 Palestinians, with over 70% being women, young children, and teenagers.