Blinken ‘discussed the benefits of revitalizing the PA’ during meet with Abbas, US says

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Hussein al-Sheikh welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken before his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)
Hussein al-Sheikh welcomes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken before his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “discussed the benefits of revitalizing the Palestinian Authority” during his meeting yesterday with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, the State Department says.

Washington has pushed for major PA reforms in order for it to be able to return to governing Gaza.

Blinken also reiterated US support for more humanitarian aid into Gaza, the US readout says, amid panic in UNRWA over the decisions by Washington and over a dozen other countries to suspend funding due to allegations that 12 staffers participated in the October 7 terror onslaught.

The US has said it will send its funding to other aid agencies if need be, but UNRWA officials warn that they are the only organization currently equipped to distribute aid in Gaza.

“Blinken reiterated the United States’ support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as the best pathway to enduring peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” the US readout adds.

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