U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel and the Palestinians on Monday to exercise restraint and ease tensions amid a spike in violence that has put the region on edge.
Speaking in Cairo, just hours ahead of a two-day visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank, Blinken said it is imperative for both sides to work to de-escalate tensions that have soared since last week in what he called "a new and horrifying surge in violence" and prompted severe responses from each.
The latest spate of violence erupted last week with an Israeli military raid on a militant stronghold in the West Bank city of Jenin last week that killed 10 people, most of them militants, and a Palestinian shooting attack in an east Jerusalem Jewish settlement thatAnd, on Monday, shortly before Blinken's arrival, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man in the flashpoint city of Hebron, bringing the toll of Palestinians killed in January to 35.
Blinken's trip follows visits to Israel by President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan and CIA Director Willian Burns. But Blinken's meetings will be the highest-level U.S. engagement with Netanyahu since he retook power last month and the first since the surge in violence. Israeli Army Radio reported late Sunday that the government was also set to approve a rogue outpost deep inside the West Bank, and speed up approval for other such small settlements.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blinken urges Israel-Palestinian calm as violence soarsU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging Israel and the Palestinians to exercise restraint and ease tensions amid a spike in violence that has put the region on edge
Read more »
Israeli-Palestinian cauldron tests US as Blinken visitsJERUSALEM (AP) — An alarming spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence and sharp responses by both sides are testing the Biden administration as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken plunges into a cauldron of deepening mistrust and anger on visits to Israel and the West Bank this week.
Read more »
Israeli-Palestinian rising violence tests US as Blinken visits regionUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and the occupied West Bank, focusing on “de-escalation” after a deadly Israeli military raid in Jenin set off violent confrontations with Palestinians.
Read more »
Secretary of State Blinken meets with Egyptian college students in first stop in Middle East tripSecretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off his Middle East trip on Sunday by meeting with Egyptian college students at the American University in Cairo.
Read more »