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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his visit to the Middle East on Tuesday with a visit to the occupied Palestinian territories. In a rare U.S. public criticism of Israel, Blinken told reporters afterward that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are an obstacle to peace. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Blinken-Israel-Palestinians
HEADLINE: Blinken Says Israeli West Bank Settlements Are Obstacle to Peace
TEASER: US Secretary of State visited occupied West Bank, calling on Israelis, Palestinians to reduce tensions
PUBLISHED AT: (1/31/23 & TIME)
BYLINE: Cindy Saine
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, Reifenrath, DJ (ok)
VIDEO SOURCE (S): MRT Blinken, AP, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
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EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his visit to the Middle East on Tuesday with a visit to the occupied Palestinian territories. In a rare U.S. public criticism of Israel, Blinken told reporters afterward that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are an obstacle to peace. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.))
((Video: AFP V000_33886ME
SLUG RAW - ISRAEL - PALESTINIANS - US - BLINKEN - GALLANT: Blinken shaking hands with the Israeli Defense Minister, taking a seat at the table-OVER TO: AFP V000_33888P8
SLUGRAW - PALESTINIANS - ISRAEL - US - DIPLOMACY - POLITICS” Blinken being greeted by Palestinian President Abbas))
((NARRATOR))
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shuttled between Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday, amid some of the worst violence the region has seen in decades. Blinken pleaded with both sides to stop the killing.
((Video: Blinken entrance B-roll at today’s presser: 10;29;08;17 MRT BLINKEN entrance BROLL, Blinken SOT
10;30;35;06 MRT BLINKEN all sides must take steps to prevent further escalation of violence))
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
“As I discussed with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and President [Mahmoud] Abbas, and everyone I met in Israel and the West Bank during this visit, all sides must take steps to prevent further escalation of violence and restore calm. That's the only way that we can create conditions in which people's sense of security will start to improve and fear will start to recede.”
((Video: Blinken walking down the stairs with Netanyahu: AFP V000_33878XF SLUG RAW - ISRAEL - US - PALESTINIANS - DIPLOMACY - CONFLICT Creation date1/30/2023 - OVER TO: recent B-roll of President Biden walking on the White House lawn))
((NARRATOR))
Blinken said the immediate priority is to calm things down and restore trust. But he said that over the longer term, President Joe Biden is committed to the goal of preserving and then realizing the vision of an Israeli state and a Palestinian state existing side by side.
((Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State))
“The United States will continue to oppose anything that puts that goal further from reach, including but not limited to settlement expansion and legalization of illegal outposts, moves towards annexation of the West Bank, disruption to the historic status quo on Jerusalem and its holy sites, demolitions and evictions and incitement and acquiescence to violence.”
((Video: AFP V000_338897R
SLUG RAW - PALESTINIANS - ISRAEL - JERUSALEM - CONFLICT Creation date 1/31/2023: 1. Wide shot waste and stones lying on a blocked street during a strike against house demolitions by Israeli authorities in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber, 4. Close-up charred rubbish container during a strike against house demolitions by Israeli authorities
5. Wide shot east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukabe, 12. Tracking shot closed shops and stones on the ground
13. Wide shot people walking past closed shops and a charred rubbish bin after a strike against house demolitions by Israeli authorities
14. Mid shot closed shops during a strike against house demolitions by Israeli authorities in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber
15. Wide shot Jabel Mukaber with the Dome of the Rock seen in the background))
((NARRATOR))
Palestinians protested Israeli plans to demolish houses Tuesday by blocking roads in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber. Blinken, conceding that Palestinians have a “shrinking horizon of hope,” said that he heard constructive suggestions from both Israelis and Palestinians, and that he asked some senior members of his diplomatic team to stay in the region longer to support those ideas.
Cindy Saine, VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 31, 2023 20:14 EST
BylineCindy Saine
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
