Antony Blinken, Biden’s pick for secretary of state, has vowed to maintain the positive relationship the Trump administration went to great lengths to build with Israel.
During his Senate Cabinet confirmation hearing, Blinken, a Democrat from New York, confirmed that the Biden administration will uphold the declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and will keep the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
However, Blinken did recognize the difficulty in keeping peace between Israel and Pakistan, after Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem in Israel’s favor upset Pakistani officials.
“The only way to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled is through the so-called two-state solution,” Blinken said.
His proposed solution is to promote “confidence building measures” that would “create an environment in which we might once again be able to help advance a solution to the Israel and Palestinian relationship.”
Blinken also said he opposed campaigns to pressure Israel through boycotts, putting him at odds with some in the left wing of his Democratic Party, Times of Israel reports.
Even while expressing distrust at the longevity of the peace deal, Blinken offered praise of the part the Trump administration played with the Abraham Accords. “I hope that also might create a greater sense of confidence and security in Israel as it considers its relationship with the Palestinians,” Blinken said, “because whether we like or not, whether they like or not, it’s not just going away.” {eoa}
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