Palestinian Authority must ‘reform and revitalize itself’ as part of path to statehood, Blinken says

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that to reach a path to statehood, the Palestinian Authority must take steps “to reform and revitalize itself.”

He says he told PA President Mahmoud Abbas today that governance must be improved, as must accountability to the Palestinian people.

It says the PA has committed to make these and other reforms.

Many actors in the region are lining up to move down the path of reconciliation, he says.

But turning to Iran, he says it and its proxies are trying to sabotage progress and escalate violence.

Blinken says the US “will continue to defend our people, and continue to defend our interests” to prevent escalation.

Blinken says he also told Netanyahu and other senior officials about his “profound concerns over actions and rhetoric, “including from government ministers, that inflame tensions, that undercut international support and place greater strains on Israel’s security.”