Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv. The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to ensure the terrorist attacks of October 7 cannot be repeated and emphasized the need to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians. Secretary Blinken and President Herzog reviewed the ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages. Secretary Blinken emphasized the imperative of facilitating the increased and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and discussed efforts to achieve broader regional integration that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Secretary Blinken’s Call with UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Kaag
Readout
January 8, 2024
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag. Secretary Blinken and Coordinator Kaag underscored the importance of strengthening the coordination mechanism delivering humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, and facilitating assistance to the northern part of the Gaza Strip to enable the return of displaced people. They emphasized a shared commitment to reach the most vulnerable including urgently expanding the entry of aid and commercial goods into Gaza, increasing use of localized aid to meet immediate needs, and enhancing funding for humanitarian assistance.
Overseas Schools Advisory Council Meeting, Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Media Note
January 8, 2024
The Overseas Schools Advisory Council of the Department of State will hold its winter meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will focus on the work and support the Overseas Schools Advisory Council provides to U.S.-sponsored overseas schools. Topics will include the Child Protection Project and the Social Emotional Learning Project. In addition, the Regional Education Officers will present on various activities and initiatives in U.S.-sponsored overseas schools.
Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting virtually should contact Mr. Mark E. Ulfers, Executive Secretary of the Overseas Advisory Council of the Department of State at OverseasSchools@state.gov, by January 19. The public may take part in the discussion, time permitting and at the discretion of the chairperson.
For further information, please contact Joyce L Picado via email at PicadoJL@state.gov or by phone at 202-261-8203.
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Al ‘Ula. The Secretary underscored the need to urgently address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and prevent further spread of the conflict. The Secretary and Crown Prince discussed ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions, including the deterrence of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of building a more secure, prosperous, and integrated region, including through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. They also discussed the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press
Remarks to the Press
January 8, 2024
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good evening, everyone. We’ve just finished our third day of a trip that thus far has taken us from Türkiye to Greece to Jordan to Qatar to the United Arab Emirates to here in Saudi Arabia. Everywhere I went, I found leaders who are determined to prevent the conflict that we’re facing now from spreading, doing everything possible to deter escalation, to prevent a widening of the conflict. We also talked about the future for this region, and I think there’s broad agreement on a few basic objectives: first, that Israel and Israelis should be able to live in peace and security, free from the fear of terrorist attacks or aggression from any of their neighbors; second, that the West Bank and Gaza should be united under Palestinian-led governance; third, the future of the region needs to be one of integration, not division and not conflict; and fourth, for that to happen, we need to see the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Now, no one I talked to thinks any of this will be easy. All recognize the hurdles, and no one thinks that anything will happen overnight. But we agreed to work together and to coordinate our efforts to help Gaza stabilize and recover, to chart a political path forward for the Palestinians, and to work toward long-term peace, security, and stability in the region as a whole.
I also found across the board that the countries we visited, the leaders we spend time with, are prepared to make the necessary commitments, to make the hard decisions to advance all of these objectives, to advance this vision for the region.
We’re heading now to Israel, where I’ll have an opportunity to share with Israeli leaders everything I’ve heard thus far on this trip, and also to talk to them about the future direction of their military campaign in Gaza. I will press on the absolute imperative to do more to protect civilians and to do more to make sure that humanitarian assistance is getting into the hands of those who need it. We’ll also, of course, focus on our relentless efforts to bring back the hostages – Americans, Israelis, and others. And we’ll talk about how we see the future for the region and for Israel. And I’m convinced that there is a future path that can actually bring lasting peace and security for Israel, that can assure that October 7th never happens again, and that can bring the region together, that can meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and do it in a way that makes this a region focused on the future, not on the challenges of the past.
With that, I’m happy to take a couple questions.
MR MILLER: Iain.
QUESTION: Secretary, your trip is partly about trying to prevent a wider war, but Israel has now killed two Hizballah leaders within a week. What does that say about U.S. leverage over Israel, and doesn’t that risk a second front?
And secondly, Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani yesterday said military strikes against the Houthis were not the best option and that he preferred diplomacy since the military strikes would raise regional tensions. What message are you giving to Arab partners in the region about U.S. and coalition efforts and intentions towards potential military strikes in Yemen?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well first, Iain, with regard to Lebanon, it’s clearly not in the interest of anyone – Israel, Lebanon, Hizballah for that matter – to see this escalate and to see an actual conflict. And the Israelis have been very clear with us that they want to find a diplomatic way forward, a diplomatic way forward that creates the kind of security that allows Israelis to return home – nearly 100,000 Israelis have been forced to leave their homes in northern Israel because of the threat coming from Hizballah and Lebanon – but also allows Lebanese to return to their homes in southern Lebanon. And we’re working intensely on that effort, and doing so diplomatically.
Second, with regard to the Red Sea, the international community as a whole faces a challenge. These attacks, consistent attacks by the Houthis on international shipping, are a threat to everyone. We talked about this yesterday. You’ve got about 15 percent of the world’s commerce every day going through that strait, going through the Red Sea. And these attacks are having a real effect on the prices that people have to pay for food, for medicine, for energy. Ships have to get diverted to other places, insurance rates go up, and the basic principle of freedom of navigation is what’s at stake.
So the international community has a real stake in upholding that principle. As I said, we’ve had 40 countries come together to make clear that what the Houthis are doing has to stop. And we have other countries that have made clear that if it continues, there have to be consequences.
So our strong view, our strong preference, is that the Houthis get the message that they’re receiving from countries around the world that this needs to stop. And that’s what we’re focused on.
QUESTION: Hi, Secretary Blinken. Thanks. Before the October 7th attacks, you and other aides to President Biden were trying to pursue the idea of Saudi-Israel normalization, and that’s become – it seems that’s become much more difficult in light of the attacks, given the animus on different sides now. But you still want to pursue that, because it might be one way for – to get Israel to recognize the aspirations of the Palestinians. What did the crown – what did Crown Prince Mohammed tell you today about the prospects for normalization? What’s – what conditions would he – is he looking for to reach normalization? And what do you think the U.S. and Israel have to put forward to reach that, to reach an agreement?
Secondly, what did Crown Prince Mohammed and MBZ today tell you about what they’re willing to do in a post-war state in Gaza?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So the second part of the question first. What I’ve found on virtually every stop was a willingness of all of the countries involved to do important things to help Gaza stabilize and revitalize. And I heard that in every place. And one of the things that we’re going to be working on together is just what that would require, and just what countries specifically are prepared to do. But that was a pretty constant theme.
With regard to integration, to normalization, yes, we talked about that actually on every stop, including of course here in Saudi Arabia. And I can tell you this: There’s a clear interest here in pursuing that; there’s a clear interest in the region in pursuing that. But it will require that the conflict end in Gaza, and it will also clearly require that there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state. This is what I heard from everyone we talked to about it. But this interest is there, it’s real, and it could be transformative.
QUESTION: Thank you.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, everyone.
Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh
Press Statement
January 8, 2024
The United States supports the people of Bangladesh and their aspirations for democracy, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression. The United States notes the Awami League party won a majority of seats in the January 7, 2024 parliamentary elections. The United States remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on elections day. The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated.
The United States condemns violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it. We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to credibly investigate reports of violence and to hold perpetrators accountable. We also urge all political parties to reject violence.
Looking ahead, the United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights and civil society in Bangladesh, and to deepening our people-to-people and economic ties.
Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Lapenn’s Travel to Canada
Media Note
January 8, 2024
Ambassador Jessye Lapenn, Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, will travel January 8-9 to Ottawa, Canada to engage with Global Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada on how the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation can center the Atlantic Ocean as a community to advance shared goals on sustainable economic development, scientific collaboration, and environmental conservation.
The Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation connects 36 countries north, south, east, and west of the Atlantic Ocean to collaborate on collective problem-solving and uphold a set of shared principles for Atlantic cooperation. For more information, visit the Partnership website.
