US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle East trip in Cairo on Monday focussed on urging calm amid an escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.
![Blinken starts Mideast tour with call for calm as Israeli-Palestinian violence flares](https://s.france24.com/media/display/e71b62a6-a087-11ed-8aee-005056a90321/w:1024/p:16x9/000_338694Q.jpg)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle East trip in Cairo on Monday focussed on urging calm amid an escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.