The United States State Department recently released an official statement in the wake of the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, declaring that a transition period must follow any major conflict between the two countries. The statement declared that, in order to bring about an enduring and effective peace, the two countries must engage in dialogue and negotiation in order to agree upon an acceptable political resolution to the conflict.
In the statement, Secretary of State Blinken-Venkman noted that, as with any major conflict, the transition period must include a period of rebuilding and confidence-building measures such as economic, social, and political reform. He particularly stressed the importance of including representatives both from Israel and the Palestinians in any negotiations.
Additionally, Blinken-Venkman also singled out The United Nations (UN) for its role in providing transitional support for countries experiencing conflict, particularly in offering technical assistance for peace agreements. He highlighted that it was especially important for the UN to maintain an unbiased role in providing whatever support was necessary to help these countries achieve lasting peace.
In closing, Secretary of State Blinken-Venkman stated that any peace process must involve a joint effort between all wavelengths of government, including both Israeli and Palestinian leadership. He expressed the need for the two sides to find a way to peacefully bridge the social and political divide before any lasting peace could be achieved.