On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled from Israel to the West Bank of the Palestinians to reiterate Washington’s support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict and call for an end to the resurgence of violence.
Following the killing of seven people by a Palestinian gunman outside a Jerusalem synagogue last week and the outrage among Palestinians over the actions of Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, Blinken is urging both sides to maintain their composure.
He stated at a Jerusalem news conference, “That’s the only way that we can create conditions in which people’s sense of security will start to improve.”
In a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, he conveyed that message, advising all parties against any action that could jeopardize a two-state solution in which Israel and a Palestinian independent state coexist.
“We’ve been clear that this includes things like settlement expansion, the legalization of outposts, demolitions and evictions, disruptions to the historic status of the holy sites, and obviously incitement and acquiescence to violence,” according to the organization.
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He stated that he had received constructive ideas in addition to “deep concern” regarding the current trajectory in both Israel and the West Bank, and he had requested senior officials to remain behind to continue the conversation.
According to a senior State Department official, Barbara Leaf, the department’s top Middle East official, and Hady Amr, the US special representative for Palestinian affairs, would remain.
At a time of extreme tension between the two sides, this marks Blinken’s first visit since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assumed leadership of one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history earlier this month.
He said that the “shrinking horizon of hope” facing Palestinians needed to change.
Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) suspended its security cooperation agreement with Israel last week following the largest incursion in years amid growing outrage over near-daily Israeli raids in the West Bank. Ten Palestinians were killed in a gunfight that broke out when Israeli forces entered a refugee camp in the northern city of Jenin.
Following his meeting with Blinken, Abbas stated, “The Israeli government is responsible for what is happening today, because of its practices that undermine the two-state solution and violate the signed agreements.”
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Bloody January
The bloodiest month since 2015 has seen 35 Palestinian deaths in clashes with Israeli troops in January alone, and officials claim that Israeli settlers have also increased their attacks on Palestinian property. Following a string of deadly attacks by Palestinians in Israel last year, Israeli forces have intensified their crackdown on militant groups in the West Bank, which has resulted in the raids occurring almost daily for months.
Blinken also talked about how the US helps the Palestinian economy, which is a lot dependent on money from other countries. He stated that an agreement had been reached regarding the provision of high-speed 4G telecom services to Palestinians and that the United States would provide an additional $50 million in funding through the United Nations.
Blinken went to Deir Dibwan, a town near Ramallah that is home to many Palestinian Americans, and met businesspeople and leaders of civil society before meeting Abbas. Blinken met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday to talk about how to work together to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and the situation in the West Bank.
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