US: Secretary of State reaffirms Washington's support for two-state solution in call with Palestinian leader

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the weekend, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to a two-state solution. The call comes amidst tensions in the region, including violence and loss of life.

In a statement by the US State Department, Blinken spoke with Abbas on the phone Friday last week. Blinken reiterated Washington’s commitment to a two-state solution to the volatile conflict between Israel and Palestine. The two-state solution would envision Palestine as an independent state along with Israel.

Blinken also discussed the joint efforts to improve the lives of the Palestinian people while enhancing security and freedom. Blinken “underscored his deep concern over the situation in the West Bank, including heightened tensions, violence, and loss of both Palestinian and Israeli lives,” and stressed the need for both sides to de-escalate the situation.

Abbas also informed Blinken of the constant attacks on Palestinians by Israeli forces, as well as the Israeli blockade of Palestinian towns and villages, and settler violence, according to the Wafa news outlet. The call on Friday also follows the killing of four Palestinians by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank and the occupied East Jerusalem Thursday.

The killings also come amidst Israel’s national elections, which led to Benjamin Netanyahu winning by a comfortable margin backed by far-right allies, including Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit Party, who called for the expulsion of Palestinians deemed “disloyal” to Israel.

On the same day, an incident took place in the Gaza Strip with Israeli fighter jets targeted what they claimed was a “rocket manufacturing site” as a response to the rockets fired in Israel.

In other related news, the US and Canada issued coordinated sanctions on two Haitian politicians, Joseph Lambert and Youri Latortue, for using their positions “to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs.”

“Haitian Senator Joseph Lambert is ineligible to enter the United States for his corrupt activities and gross violation of human rights. The United States will continue to hold accountable anyone who foments instability and undermines democracy in Haiti,” tweeted Blinken.

Last month, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry urged the international community to help establish a “specialized armed force” to restore security. However, despite receiving support from the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, civil society groups have opposed the idea, saying foreign interventions have brought more harm and good.