Important files on Blinken's table during his visit to the Middle East

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken kicked off his Middle East tour with a visit to Cairo on Sunday.

The visit comes amid a major escalation in violence between Israelis and Palestinians, as Blinken seeks to use US influence to try to reduce tensions.

The American official's tour, which began in Cairo, will lead him to Jerusalem and Ramallah today, Monday, and tomorrow, Tuesday.

Files on a "blinkin" table

The US State Department said that Blinken will discuss in Cairo the files of Sudan and Libya and the developments in Gaza, and in Israel the file of Iran and its prevention of developing nuclear weapons, and will confirm, during a meeting with Palestinian President Abbas, support for the two-state solution.

Dead before the visit

Blinken's visit comes as the Israeli army killed nine Palestinians during a military operation in Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank

On Friday, an attack near a synagogue in East Jerusalem left seven people dead.

Talks with Netanyahu

In his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken intends to stress the need to "take urgent de-escalation measures."

"The most important thing in the near future is to try to establish some calm," Blinken said.

Series of visits

Blinken's visit to Israel indicates Washington's determination to quickly resume relations with Netanyahu, who returned to power at the head of the most right-wing government in Israel's history.

Netanyahu's relations with the administration of US Democratic President Joe Biden were tense, especially with regard to the Iranian nuclear file.

The current stalemate in the negotiations to revive the 2015 agreement is expected to contribute to bringing positions closer.

Not America's closest ally

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said he was very sad that Israel was no longer the closest ally of the US administration.

According to the Israeli newspaper, "ynet", Thall Lapid, the Biden administration believes that Israel is in a state of decline, even if Washington tries to maintain these bilateral relations between the two countries.