WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Secretary of State Antony
Blinken called Friday on Israel to ensure “equal” treatment of the Palestinians
as the new US administration cautiously steps up efforts for a two-state
solution.
اضافة اعلان
In a telephone call with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi,
Blinken “emphasized the administration’s belief that Israelis and Palestinians
should enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and democracy,”
State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
Blinken also committed to “strengthening all aspects of the
US-Israel partnership” and voiced support for Israel’s agreements over the past
year to normalize relations with four more Arab nations.
The call comes amid another spell of political uncertainty
in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party securing the
most votes but failing to secure a majority in the fourth election in two
years.
President Joe Biden, while stressing his support for Israel,
has also signaled he will back away from the unwavering support of the
right-wing Netanyahu by his predecessor Donald Trump.
The administration has stepped up humanitarian aid to the
Palestinians and in recent days made clear that it believes that Israel’s
control of the West Bank is “occupation.”
“We believe when it comes to settlement activity that Israel
should refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut
efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution,” Price said Thursday.
Blinken’s predecessor Mike Pompeo broke precedent by saying
he did not consider Israeli construction on land seized in 1967 to be illegal
and he visited a settlement in the West Bank last year.
Blinken has nonetheless made clear that the administration
will not roll back some of Trump’s signature moves, including recognizing
occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
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