U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, according to Matthew Miller, spokesman for the U.S. State Department.
Blinken “reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral partnership and U.S. commitment to Israel’s security,” stated Miller, who added that the two leaders “discussed mutual interests, including expanding Israel’s regional integration and countering threats posed by Iran.”
Blinken “reiterated continued U.S. support for policies that ensure freedom, security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Miller said.
A separate State Department statement from Miller released on Tuesday referred to Blinken’s call on Monday with Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas.
The secretary of state “expressed continued concern about ongoing violence in the West Bank” and “reaffirmed U.S. support for measures to advance freedom and security and improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people,” according to the readout.
Miller also noted that Blinken and Abbas “discussed their support for a two-state solution and opposition to actions endangering its viability.”