US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Amman Wednesday and held a press conference after meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and other Jordanian officials.

Blinken started the press conference by congratulating the Jordanian people on the 75th anniversary of the Kingdom’s independence.

Later on, Blinken talked about the Kingdom’s huge role in bringing an end to the Palestinian-Israeli Occupation conflict.

“Jordan’s recent contributions to help bring an end to the conflict in Israel demonstrate the kingdom’s enduring role as a force for peace in the region, which is one of the reasons our relationship is so strong and so vital,” he said.

“His Majesty King Abdullah’s leadership has been crucial on this run, as it has been in so many other areas where Jordan and the United States work together, including efforts to promote stability, economic opportunity, and justice across the region.”

He stressed that Jordan is more than a strategic partner to the US.

“It’s [Jordan] a friend. And friends stand by one another in challenging times, and I know this past period has been difficult on Jordan, as it has been on many of us.”

He added that both Jordan and the US are now working on growing the economy in order to provide real opportunities for the people.

He also talked about the aim of his visit to the Middle East.
“As you know, President Biden asked me to make this trip, and I’ve kept him updated on our progress throughout,” Blinken said.

“Securing the ceasefire was important, particularly because of the devastating toll violence took on families on both sides. But we see the ceasefire not as an end, but as a beginning, something to build on.”

During the Q&A session in the press conference, Roya’s correspondent asked Blinken “Why not commit to building infrastructure in Palestine that would keep Palestinians safe?”

Blinken answered by saying that Tuesday it was announced that the US is in the process of providing more than USD 360 million of assistance to the Palestinian people, which includes around USD 40 million in new assistance that is directed primarily to support the humanitarian efforts in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

He added that the new assistance includes nearly USD 33 million for UNRWA in support of the West Bank and Gaza operations, stressing that an additional five and a half million will be designated for humanitarian partners.

Blinked continued, “All of this will support humanitarian organizations in the first instance to provide what’s needed immediately, and that’s the emergency shelter, food, relief items, health care, mental health, et cetera.”

“But beyond that, working with Congress, the State Department, USAID intend to provide about 75 million in additional development and economic assistance over the next year that can support relief, recovery, and indeed, infrastructure in the West Bank as well as in Gaza.”

He stressed that this will help advance private sector growth, which is critical to bringing jobs to people who need them, as well as access to basic needs, services, like health care and food.

He said “there are additional programs as well. This is on top of about USD 250 million in economic, development, and security and humanitarian assistance that we announced before recent events, back in March and April.”

“And that’s where you get to a total of about $360 million for the Palestinian people.”

He said all of this does go to building things, bringing more hope, more prospects and more opportunity for Palestinians.

“And some of that need will include infrastructure. This is critical because so much of this is, in the first instance, doing everything we can to improve in material ways the lives that people are living.”

“That’s where I think it starts. That’s where you try to build hope as well as opportunity. And that, both in a literal sense when it comes to infrastructure and in a broader sense, is the foundation, I believe, upon which maybe we can build something even better.”

He lastly said “It’s going to take some time to see the effect, to see the impact, but it is moving forward. Thank you.”

Also Read: UPDATE: Blinken praises King Abdullah, Jordan's role in ceasefire in Amman visit