Blinken, Abbas discuss bilateral relations, latest developments in Palestine

By Halime Afra Aksoy

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Palestine in a phone call Monday.

Abbas reiterated to Blinken that the current situation is not sustainable, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

The Israeli occupation should halt settlement activities and attacks by Jewish settlers as well as the expulsion of Palestinians from Jerusalem neighborhoods, he said.

Abbas also stressed the need to stop unilateral Israeli practices that undermine the two-state solution as well as to implement the agreements signed between the two sides.

He pointed out the importance of continuing to work to strengthen relations with the US and to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of these relations.

Blinken meanwhile affirmed the US commitment to the two-state solution.

He noted that the Biden administration is aware of the political and economic difficulties the Palestinian Authority is going through and underscored its rejection of settlements and settler attacks and incursions into Palestinian Authority areas.

He added that the Biden administration is committed to reopening the US Consulate in East Jerusalem.

​​​​​​​*Written by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara