US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to “restore calm” in the region. Blinken also reiterated United States support for a two-state solution during the talks, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Saturday.
In addition, the US Secretary of State emphasized Washington’s rejection of “unilateral measures that would lead to a further escalation of tensions”.
A week ago, the right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel announced that it would subsequently legalize nine settlements in the occupied West Bank. Several Western countries, including Germany, had sharply criticized the plans.
The White House said Thursday it was “deeply dismayed” by the Israeli plan. However, Washington spoke out against a UN Security Council resolution calling on Israel to freeze settlements.
Last year was the deadliest in the West Bank since the United Nations began counting the death toll in 2005. Deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues this year. (AFP)
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