BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken dresses Israel down during his AIPAC speech

United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken speaks at the AIPAC gathering in Washington on Monday June 5, 2023 [Getty].

WASHINGTON (CC) - On Monday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken appeared to some people to dress Israel down during his speech to the pro-Israel lobby group called the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

"Settlement expansion clearly presents an obstacle to the horizon of hope that we seek," Blinken said to a cricketed response from the crowd.

He did draw widespread applause later in his speech as he attempted to affirm America's longstanding commitment to Israel, by vowing to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weaponry.

With his settlement expansion remarks, Blinken was evidently referring to what he believes could be an obstacle to a potentially U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Palestine.

That is, Israel’s High Planning Committee in the Civil Administration's approval in February of this year for some 4,000 new housing units to be constructed in what anti-Israel factions call the "occupied West Bank."

The so-called West Bank is the popular name for the district that the Holy Bible calls Judea and Samaria. Part of the very heart of the Biblical land of Israel inhabited by who the Scriptures refer to as God's chosen people - the Jewish people including Jesus Christ (King of the Jews).

Many Palestinians view the West Bank as their territory, going back generations even before 1948 when Israel was officially reborn as a nation.

"Likewise, any move toward annexation of the West Bank, de facto or de jure, disruption of the historic status quo at holy sites, the continuing demolitions of homes and the evictions of families that have lived in those homes for generations damage prospects for two states. They also undermine the basic daily dignity to which all people are entitled," Blinken added.

He seemed to be accusing Israel's new and feisty National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of damaging prospects for a peace deal involving the establishment of the State of Palestine - a top priority for Saudi Arabia, as reported by The Christian Commander.

Ben Gvir this year has unashamedly visited the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, sparking controversy and outrage from many in the Muslim world.

The Temple Mount is widely considered one of the most sacred sites on earth for both the Jewish people and adherents to Islam. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has long-been the custodian of Muslim holy sites at the Mount, as recognized by President Joe Biden.

In May, Ben Givr declared “We are in charge here,” as he toured the Temple Mount. “I am happy to go up to the Temple Mount, the most important place for the Jewish people,” he continued.

It is not readily clear whether or not Ben Givr meant that the Jewish people or his security force body guards were in charge there.

The Holy site has for years been the flashpoint for violent and sometimes bloody clashes between Jews and Muslims, especially during Ramadan and feast days.

Israel is known for demolishing homes of who it calls Palestinian terrorists who were alleged to have committed violent acts against the state. Pro-Palestinian factions have accused Israel of bulldozing innocent family's homes.

Blinken is expected to leave home and visit Saudi Arabia this week in hopes of furthering the prospects of a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi that would either be very similar to, or part of the Abraham Accords brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to The Christian Commander for updates.