WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to “end the cycle of violence” after a sharp escalation in tensions in recent days.
In separate calls with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Blinken stressed “the importance of Israelis and Palestinians working to end the cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza by exercising restraint and refraining from actions that escalate tensions,” the State Department said.
He also urged both sides to exercise “restraint” and refrain “from actions that escalate tensions” including at the Al Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site, but known to Jews as the Temple Mount — Judaism’s holiest place — in Jerusalem’s Israeli-annexed Old City.
The secretary of state also reiterated the US’s commitment to improving the quality of life of the Palestinians in “tangible ways” and America’s support for a negotiated two-state solution.
In his call with Israeli foreign minister, Blinken reiterated the US government’s “steadfast commitment” to Israel’s security and condemned recent rocket attacks allegedly from Gaza.
Blinken and Lapid also discussed efforts to confront global challenges, including those posed by Iran and its proxies, according to the statement.
The State Department announced that Yael Lempert, assistant secretary for near eastern affairs, would travel to Jordan, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Egypt for talks aimed at “reducing tensions” in the region. Her trip will last from Tuesday until April 26.
Israel carried out its first airstrike on the Gaza Strip in months early on Tuesday, in response to a rocket allegedly fired from the Palestinian enclave after a weekend of violence around the Jerusalem holy site.
The strikes come after weeks of mounting violence, with a total of 23 Palestinians and Arab-Israelis killed, including alleged assailants who are said to have targeted Israelis in four deadly attacks.
