Palestinian President Abbas Blames Israel for Violence

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Israel on Tuesday for a sharp escalation of violence in the West Bank as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged calm on both sides and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a two-state solution.

Calling for “the complete cessation of unilateral Israeli actions, which violate the signed agreements and international law”, Abbas reiterated the Palestinians’ longstanding demand for Israel to end its occupation.

“We are now ready to work with the US administration and the international community to restore political dialogue in order to end the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said in a statement.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Alison Williams)

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