WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due Sunday in Egypt at the start of a Middle East trip on which he will look to use US influence to notch down Israeli-Palestinian tensions after an eruption of violence. A Palestinian man on Friday killed seven people outside a synagogue in a settler neighbourhood of east Jerusalem, and another attack followed on Saturday. The United States, with its close relationship to Israel, has historically taken a lead on Middle East diplomacy. Blinken is expected on his trip to reiterate US support for a Palestinian state, a prospect that few expect to advance under the new Israeli government. In Egypt, Blinken is also expected to discuss regional issues such as Libya and Sudan, the State Department said.
