Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's Travel to the Middle East
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's Travel to the Middle East
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 20, 2012
Secretary
Clinton will depart today on travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Cairo,
leaving from the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She will meet
with regional leaders, starting with our Israeli partners, to consult
on the situation in Gaza.
Her visits will build on American
engagement with regional leaders over the past days - including
intensive engagement by President Obama with Prime Minister Netanyahu
and President Morsi - to support de-escalation of violence and a durable
outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns and
restores a broader calm. As President Obama noted in his conversations
with President Morsi, we commend Egypt's efforts to de-escalate the
situation and are hopeful that these efforts will be successful.
She
will emphasize the United States' interest in a peaceful outcome that
protects and enhances Israel's security and regional stability; that can
lead to improved conditions for the civilian residents of Gaza; and
that can reopen the path to fulfill the aspirations of Palestinians and
Israelis for two states living in peace and security. She will continue
to express U.S. concern for the loss of civilian life on both sides.
