Blinken meets Abbas, says US to reopen Jerusalem consulate to Palestinians

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says the United States will notify Israel of its intention to reopen its Jerusalem consulate to the Palestinians, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

“As I told both Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and President Abbas, the United States will go forward with the reopening of its consulate in Jerusalem. This is an important step,” Blinken says.

Blinken says the United States opposes unilateral actions which could undermine the prospects for a just, durable peace, “whether that is settlement activity, home demolitions, annexation of territory, incitement to violence or compensation of individuals who committed acts of terror.”

“As I told the president, I am here to underscore the commitment of the United States government to its relationship with the Palestinian Authority,” Blinken says.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on May 25, 2021, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP)

Abbas thanks the US secretary of state for his support.

“We thank the American state for the support it has given to the State of Palestine,” Abbas says. “We hope that the future is full of diplomatic activities led by the United States and the Quartet, so as to reach a just, comprehensive solution based on international law.”