By Le Figaro with AFP
Published
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US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to “restore calmin the region, during two telephone interviews on Saturday.
Antony Blinken recalled Washington’s attachment to a “two state solution” and his “opposition to policies that endanger its viability“said his spokesman, Ned Price. “Secretary of State stresses urgent need for Israelis and Palestinians to take action to restore calm“, he added in a press release. He also underlined the strong opposition of the United States to “unilateral measures that would lead to a further escalation of tensions».
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On Thursday, the White House said to itself “deeply dismayedby the decision of the Israeli government, formed with the far right, to legalize nine settlements in the occupied West Bank and to build new housing in existing settlements. Washington, however, opposes any UN Security Council resolution to demand that Israel put an end to settlements in the occupied territories.
A role of mediator
Antony Blinken had met President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank at the end of January, at the end of an intense diplomatic sequence where he had already tried to call for a de-escalation between Israelis and Palestinians. Planned for a long time, this tour had taken a different turn because of a resurgence of deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence.
In their telephone conversation on Saturday, Blinken and Abbas discussed measures to “improve the quality of life of Palestinians and enhance their security and freedom“, according to Ned Price. With Netanyahu, Antony Blinken notably addressed “the threats posed by Iranand recalled the “unwavering commitmentof the United States for the security of Israel.
