Antony Blinken says US opposes anything that puts two-state solution ‘further from reach’ after violence in Jerusalem
The United States will “continue to oppose anything” that puts a two-state solution “further from reach” after one of the bloodiest months in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in several years, the US secretary of state has said.
Antony Blinken said the US opposes Israeli settlement expansion and any moves towards the annexation of the West Bank.
The US secretary of state spoke in a news conference in Jerusalem on the second day of a two-day visit to Israel where he has met with the country’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
His comments come days after two shootings, one by a Palestinian gunman and another by a Palestinian teenager, left seven people dead and five wounded in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, some 35 Palestinians have been killed in fighting, including 10 who were killed in an Israeli military raid in the flashpoint town of Jenin last Thursday.
Mr Blinken said today: “The horrific terror attacks in Jerusalem, the escalating violence in the West Bank, have underscored the significant challenges to security and stability that the region faces and that we face.
“A rising tide of violence has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives on both sides… all sides must take steps to prevent further escalation of violence and restore calm.”
He continued: “It’s President Biden’s firm conviction that the only way to achieve (peace) is through preserving and then realising, the vision of two states for two peoples.
“The United States will continue to oppose anything that puts that goal further from reach.
“We’ve been clear that this includes things like settlement expansion, the legalisation of outposts, demolitions and
evictions, disruptions to the historic status of the holy sites, and of course incitement and acquiescence to violence.”
Mr Blinken also said that during his meetings in Israel and the occupied West Bank he had heard a “deep concern about the current trajectory”.
A man uses a slingshot during a clash with Israeli troops in the West Bank
However, he also said that he heard concrete ideas from both sides that, if pursued, could help defuse the current situation.
Mr Blinken’s first visit since Mr Netanyahu returned to power this month at the head of one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history comes at a time of extreme tension between the two sides.
He said Palestinians were facing a “shrinking horizon of hope” that needed to change.
Amid rising anger at near-daily raids by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Mr Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) suspended its security cooperation agreement with Israel last week after the largest incursion in years.
The operation saw Israeli forces penetrate deep into a refugee camp in the northern city of Jenin, setting off a gunfight in which 10 Palestinians died.
In January alone, 35 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops, in the bloodiest month since 2015, while officials say attacks on Palestinian property by Israeli settlers have also increased.
On Friday, a Palestinian gunman killed seven people outside a synagogue in an east Jerusalem settlement on Friday.
The next morning, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy shot and wounded two Israelis elsewhere in east Jerusalem.
“The Israeli government is responsible for what is happening today, because of its practices that undermine the two-state solution and violate the signed agreements,” Mr Abbas said during Mr Blinken’s visit.
Mr Netanyahu has reinforced troops in the West Bank and promised measures to strengthen settlements there, but so far held off from more extreme steps.
On Tuesday, Mr Blinken met Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and discussed cooperation to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon as well the situation in the West Bank.
Hopes of achieving a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state based largely in the West Bank, have all but disappeared since the last round of US-sponsored talks stalled in 2014.
The Biden administration has said it would re-establish a consulate for Palestinians shuttered by former President Donald Trump, but has yet to say when or where it will be opened.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani – who described himself as “Trump’s worst nightmare” – is set to become New York’s next mayor, Sky’s US partner network NBC News projects.
The projected win – with 60.2% of votes counted – comes after one of the most colourful races in years and looks set to have a profound effect on US national politics.
Mr Mamdani will be the first Muslim, first South Asian, and youngest person in a century to be elected as New York City mayor.
The first reaction from the Democrat came on social media while votes were still being counted, where Mr Mamdani posted a video of a subway coming to a stop as a tannoy says: “The next and last stop is: City Hall.”
After the current Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, announced he would run as an independent after a corruption scandal, Andrew Cuomo emerged as frontrunner to take the party’s nomination.
He was looking to rebuild his career after resigning as governor of New York State in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment.
But in a major upset, relative outsider Mr Mamdani took the nomination instead, and became the favourite for mayor. Cuomo then chose to run as an independent.
Read more:
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
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Who is Zohran Mamdani?
On the eve of the election, Mr Trump said Mr Mamdani – who is known for left-wing policies and campaigning on issues like affordable housing – would bring “disaster” to the city.
He encouraged backers of Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate who trailed in polling, to transfer their votes to Mr Cuomo instead.
Pic: NDZ / STAR MAX / IPx / AP
New York’s mayoral race was one of four elections on Tuesday serving as a bellwether referendum on Mr Trump’s second term as president.
Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won their races to become state governor in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively.
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A cargo plane has crashed near an airport in Kentucky.
Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) say officers are attending the scene of the accident near Louisville International Airport.
The force added: “LMPD and multiple other agencies are responding to reports of a plane crash near Fern Valley and Grade Lane.
“Grade Lane will be closed indefinitely between Stooges and Crittenden. Injuries reported.”
UPS said it has been notified of an incident involving one of its aircraft. In a statement on its website, the company said three people were on board.
A fireball erupts near airport property after reports of a plane crash at Louisville International Airport, Kentucky. Pic: Jon Cherry / AP
Pic: Brad Harvey / AP
Pic: Jon Cherry / AP
A shelter-in-place order was also issued within five miles of the Kentucky airport, which is also home to UPS Worldport, the delivery firm’s largest package handling facility in the world.
The airport said that all arriving and departing flights are temporarily suspended, that the airfield is closed, and warned passengers should closely monitor their flights.
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said the crash happened around 5.15pm local time (10.15pm UK time) as the plane left the airport, bound for Honolulu in Hawaii.
It added that the aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 plane, primarily used by cargo airlines.
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear added on social media: “First responders are onsite, and we will share more information as available.
“Please pray for the pilots, crew and everyone affected. We will share more soon.”
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Former US vice president Dick Cheney has died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family has said.
In a statement, his family said the 84-year-old was surrounded by his wife Lynne, daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members.
The Republican was one of the most polarising vice presidents in US history under George W Bush from 2001 to 2009, and was a leading advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Dick Cheney with George W Bush. Pic: Reuters
In later life, he became a target of Donald Trump, especially after his daughter, Liz Cheney, became the leading Republican critic and examiner of Mr Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.
“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Mr Cheney said in a TV advert for his daughter.
“He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward.”
Dick Cheney looks on as his daughter Liz Cheney takes the oath of office in 2017. Pic: AP
Last year he said he was voting for Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, to be president against Mr Trump.
Mr Cheney survived five heart attacks and declared in 2013 he woke up each morning “with a smile on my face, thankful for the gift of another day”.
Pic: Reuters
His family’s statement said: “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States.
“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.
“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country.
“And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”
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