Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Israel and Hamas are on the verge of finalizing a cease-fire agreement proposed by the Biden administration. Blinken stated that while some issues still needed to be resolved, the deal was nearing completion.
During a discussion at the Aspen Institute on July 19, Blinken mentioned that the proposed cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas was close to being signed, stating that they were “in the 10-yard line” and could reach an agreement soon. However, he acknowledged that the final negotiations could be challenging.
The Biden administration has been actively working to facilitate the proposed cease-fire since the end of May. The framework unveiled by President Joe Biden includes several transition phases, such as the release of hostages held by Hamas and the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops from urban areas.
While both Israel and Hamas’s political leadership have signed onto the framework, Blinken highlighted that final negotiations were proving to be more elusive. He emphasized the importance of ensuring lasting peace for both Israeli and Palestinian populations post-conflict.
Blinken reiterated the United States’ commitment to a two-state solution but emphasized that specific milestones must be achieved before Palestinian statehood can be realized. He underscored the need for the next Palestinian political authority to not be dominated by organizations advocating violence against Israel and their own people.
Additionally, Blinken identified Hamas and the Islamist regime in Iran as significant barriers to achieving peace in the region. He emphasized the need to isolate Iran and its proxies to normalize Israel’s relations with other regional powers. Iran’s continued efforts to produce nuclear material pose a threat to regional stability.
Blinken criticized the termination of the Iran Nuclear Deal as a mistake and emphasized the importance of limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He stressed the significance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and highlighted the potential risks associated with Iran’s nuclear program. Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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