SHARE US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East to bolster last week’s ceasefire that ended an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. At the start of his visit, Mr Blinken gave a boost to the revival of US-Palestine ties, and as he continues his travels, he will strengthen co-ordination efforts with Washington’s regional allies to rebuild the devastated Palestinian territory of Gaza. Since arriving on Monday, America’s top diplomat has held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He has also met President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt, whose government led the efforts to mediate an end to the war, and is due to visit King Abdullah in Jordan.