ISRAEL: Blinken And Dermer Discuss "Importance Of Deescalating Tensions"

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has told reporters that Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed, "the importance of de-esclating tensions," in a meeting with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, at the State Department today.

• Patel: "They discussed the importance of de-escalating tensions and the United States commitment to a two-state solution."
• Patel: "They also discussed regional challenges like the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies and Israel's further integration into the region."
• Patel declined to comment on if the two discussed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reform programme which has strained relations with Washington.
• Axios reported yesterday that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley will travel to Israel next week, “amid growing concerns inside the Biden administration about how the Netanyahu government's judicial overhaul is affecting the Israeli military.”
• Axios notes: “The Pentagon is concerned that the crisis facing the Israeli military could have negative implications for Israel's deterrence strategy and may encourage Iran or Hezbollah to conduct military provocations that could escalate the situation in the region, a U.S. official told Axios several weeks ago.”