Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to the Mideast Tuesday to help achieve a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Clinton will meet with regional leaders in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Cairo. Clinton will be speaking with the Palestinian Authority rather than Hamas, which the United States does not recognize diplomatically.
Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes dicussed Clinton’s visit during a press briefing in Cambodia Tuesday.
Her visits will build on the engagement that we’ve undertaken over the last several days, including the engagement by President Obama and Secretary Clinton with leaders in the region to support a de-escalation of the violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and restores a broader calm in the region…
On her trip, Secretary Clinton will emphasize the United States’ interest in a peaceful outcome that protects and enhances Israel’s security and regional stability — an outcome that can lead to improved conditions for the civilian residents of Gaza, and that could reopen the path to fulfill the aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis for two states living side by side in peace and security. And, of course, she will continue to express our concern about the loss of civilian life on both sides.
