Washington calls on Israel to take “urgent” measures against settler violence

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that in a phone call with Benny Gantz, the Israeli opposition leader who joined the war emergency government formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken stressed “the urgent need to take positive steps to reduce tension in the West Bank, including by Confronting the increasing level of extremist settler violence.”

During his call with Gantz, Blinken, who is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, also discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to free hostages held by Hamas since October 7.

The US State Department said that the two ministers discussed efforts to enhance and accelerate the entry of necessary humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The two sides also discussed efforts to prevent the expansion of the conflict and secure the release of the hostages.