U.S. secretary of state to travel to Israel, West Bank this week

This will be Antony Blinken’s third trip to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks. He will travel to the Middle East after attending Ukraine-focused meetings on Wednesday. While in Israel, he is expected to emphasize Gaza’s need for humanitarian aid and protections for civilians in Gaza. Israel has been at war with Hamas for over 50 days. After his visit, Blinken will attend the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates.

What else will Blinken do in Israel? Blinken will meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet about the possibility of a cease-fire extension. The initial agreement expired Monday, but has already been extended an additional two days. He will also cover plans for the future of Gaza after Hamas is eliminated and continue to emphasize a two-state solution. Blinken will also travel to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Dig deeper: Read Kim Henderson’s report in WORLD Magazine about anti-Semitic student protests on college campuses.