Counselor of the Department of State Derek Chollet is traveling today to Israel and Jordan, joined by Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf. The Counselor and the Assistant Secretary will engage with leaders to reaffirm the United States' strong support for Israel's security and the U.S. commitment to preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading. They will underscore the importance of facilitating the release of all remaining hostages, increasing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and taking all measures to protect civilians. They will also reiterate the importance of holding extremist settlers accountable for attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank and reemphasize the responsibility of all parties to help chart a path forward for Gaza that achieves lasting security for both Israelis and Palestinians, building on the principles laid out in Tokyo on November 8, and including a sustained mechanism for reconstruction and Palestinian-led governance of a unified West Bank and Gaza.
Following meetings in Israel and Jordan, the Counselor and the Assistant Secretary will join Secretary Blinken for additional meetings in the region.
