Abbas, US Secretary of State Hold Phone Talks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed, on Monday, ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and the latest developments in the Palestinian territories over phone.

Abbas stressed that the actions of the Israeli occupation authorities, their forces, and settlers who practice terrorism are contributing to the undermining of the two-state solution and destroying all chances of achieving peace. 

He called on the US administration to accept the Palestinian endeavor to obtain full membership in the United Nations by a Security Council resolution, to end all sanctions imposed on Palestinians due to US laws, and to build normal relations between the US administration and Palestine, including reopening the US consulate in Jerusalem and an office for Palestine in Washington, as well as restoring the direct assistance program.

He underlined the need to oblige the Israeli occupation authorities to stop all their aggressive practices and unilateral Israeli actions, adhere to the signed agreements, and turn to the political horizon.