Former U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who served in President Joe Biden's administration, spoke out against declarations by many Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state. In an article written for the Wall Street Journal, he argued that "the move is detached from reality and this is not the time - the priority is preventing hunger in Gaza, recovering the hostages and ending the war in Gaza." Additionally, he detailed what he considers a more appropriate plan for Palestinian state recognition, noting it should be time-bound to three years, include normalization with Saudi Arabia - and even pointed out that it would help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "get rid of his toxic partners."