Washington. May 18. INTERFAX-The continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may lead to the destabilization of the situation in the region and other negative consequences, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, General Mark Milley.
"In my assessment, you risk wider destabilization and a whole range of negative consequences if the fighting continues," he told reporters on the plane accompanying him on a trip to Brussels for talks with NATO allies.
The General noted: "Therefore, I believe that de-escalation is a reasonable course of action at this stage for all parties concerned, "adding that" the continuation of hostilities is not in anyone's interests."
He did not rule out that the conflict could affect the process of normalization of Israel's relations with Arab countries.
However, Milli said that Israel's actions are aimed at self-defense.
On the eve of the newspaper The Jerusalem Post, citing a source, reported that Israel does not intend to consider the possibility of introducing a cease-fire with the Hamas movement until Thursday. The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Defense Minister Beni Gantz called on the Israeli military to remain vigilant. During a visit to army positions in the south of the country, Gantz told officers that they should "remain alert as fighting is expected to continue."
The situation on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip has remained tense for a week. Initially, militants in the Gaza Strip launched rocket attacks to support Palestinian demonstrators in Jerusalem. The situation in the region has been complicated by the decision of an Israeli court to evict several Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.
