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US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf underlined in a press briefing on Thursday the formidable challenges facing the region since October 7, stressing, however, that Washington is keen and committed to finding a lasting settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and a diplomatic solution on the Lebanon-Israel border.
Leaf pointed out that Washington has been working closely with the Israeli government to prevent a grave escalation on the border with Lebanon, while it addressed several clear messages to Hezbollah to avoid slipping into an open war by targeting civilian centers or attempting to infiltrate Israel.
While “the two parties may not intend to go into conflict,” there is always room for misunderstanding, Leaf said, adding that Washington is “first and foremost looking for a diplomatic resolution” and that “there is nothing to say that we can’t find one ultimately.”
The American diplomat highlighted a list of US diplomatic objectives in the region, including improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza, securing the quick and safe release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and ensuring that the conflict never happens again nor expands despite the destabilizing actions of Iran’s proxies, in reference to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria.
“We are thoroughly involved in efforts to bring about an arrangement for the release of the hostages that would involve humanitarian pauses in Gaza,” Leaf said, stressing that a “hostage deal is a critical starting point" for a political solution that would help “build a pathway towards Palestinian statehood.”
Underscoring her country’s engagement for a settlement based on a two-state solution, she said, “Ultimately, peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians are kind of coming about through a negotiated pathway to Palestinian statehood, and that is something we are committed to.”
Leaf described the attack on US forces in Jordan as an “unacceptable attack against Jordanian sovereignty,” perpetrated by “Iran’s proxy network in the region.” Refusing to speculate on a possible US response to the attack, she said it would be decided in due course by the US president in terms of “when and where” and that it could be “in multiple ways.”
The US diplomat blasted the attacks on Red Sea traffic by the Houthis as “reckless” and mostly devastating for countries and the people of the Middle East, especially those that rely on the strategic waterway for their commerce, like Egypt and Jordan. “These are attacks on everyone’s economy and livelihood, not the US as such, and it is by no means about the conflict between Hamas and Israel,” Leaf said, adding that the US-led coalition in the Red Sea “will continue to address the Houthis’ reckless approach until they stop.”
When asked about the suspension of financial contributions to the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following Israeli accusations that employees of the UN agency were involved in the October 7 attack, she stressed the need for a transparent investigation. In her view, if the Israeli accusations prove to be true, it is necessary that "the employees implicated be held to account so that this type of situation does not recur.” But at the same time, Leaf stressed the importance of the aid UNRWA provides to Palestinian refugees in host countries. "There is no substitute for the work this agency provides,” she observed, which suggests that the suspension of funding could be a temporary measure.
Leaf pointed out that Washington has been working closely with the Israeli government to prevent a grave escalation on the border with Lebanon, while it addressed several clear messages to Hezbollah to avoid slipping into an open war by targeting civilian centers or attempting to infiltrate Israel.
While “the two parties may not intend to go into conflict,” there is always room for misunderstanding, Leaf said, adding that Washington is “first and foremost looking for a diplomatic resolution” and that “there is nothing to say that we can’t find one ultimately.”
The American diplomat highlighted a list of US diplomatic objectives in the region, including improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza, securing the quick and safe release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and ensuring that the conflict never happens again nor expands despite the destabilizing actions of Iran’s proxies, in reference to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria.
“We are thoroughly involved in efforts to bring about an arrangement for the release of the hostages that would involve humanitarian pauses in Gaza,” Leaf said, stressing that a “hostage deal is a critical starting point" for a political solution that would help “build a pathway towards Palestinian statehood.”
Underscoring her country’s engagement for a settlement based on a two-state solution, she said, “Ultimately, peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians are kind of coming about through a negotiated pathway to Palestinian statehood, and that is something we are committed to.”
Leaf described the attack on US forces in Jordan as an “unacceptable attack against Jordanian sovereignty,” perpetrated by “Iran’s proxy network in the region.” Refusing to speculate on a possible US response to the attack, she said it would be decided in due course by the US president in terms of “when and where” and that it could be “in multiple ways.”
The US diplomat blasted the attacks on Red Sea traffic by the Houthis as “reckless” and mostly devastating for countries and the people of the Middle East, especially those that rely on the strategic waterway for their commerce, like Egypt and Jordan. “These are attacks on everyone’s economy and livelihood, not the US as such, and it is by no means about the conflict between Hamas and Israel,” Leaf said, adding that the US-led coalition in the Red Sea “will continue to address the Houthis’ reckless approach until they stop.”
When asked about the suspension of financial contributions to the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following Israeli accusations that employees of the UN agency were involved in the October 7 attack, she stressed the need for a transparent investigation. In her view, if the Israeli accusations prove to be true, it is necessary that "the employees implicated be held to account so that this type of situation does not recur.” But at the same time, Leaf stressed the importance of the aid UNRWA provides to Palestinian refugees in host countries. "There is no substitute for the work this agency provides,” she observed, which suggests that the suspension of funding could be a temporary measure.
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