US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday called on Israel to ensure “equal” treatment of the Palestinians, as the new US government cautiously intensifies efforts for a two-state solution.
In a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Blinken “emphasized the government’s conviction that Israelis and Palestinians should enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and democracy,” Ned Price said.
Blinken also committed himself to the security of Israel, the ‘strengthening of all aspects of the US-Israel partnership’ and expressed his support for the Jewish state’s agreements over the past year to normalize relations with four other Arab countries.
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The call comes amid another period of political uncertainty in Israel, following last week’s unconvincing election, Israel’s fourth in two years.
US President Joe Biden, while emphasizing his support for Israel, has also indicated that he will withdraw from the unwavering support of right-wing Netanyahu by his predecessor Donald Trump.
The government has stepped up humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and in recent days has made it clear that it believes Israel’s control of the West Bank is ‘occupation’.
“We believe in terms of settlement activity that Israel must refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that its efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution are being undermined,” Price said on Thursday.
Blinken’s predecessor, Mike Pompeo, broke precedent by saying he did not consider Israeli construction on land seized in 1967 illegal and he visited a settlement in the West Bank last year.
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, left, talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after a security briefing on Mount Bental in the Golan Heights, near the Israeli-Syrian border, on November 19, 2020. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky, Pool)
Blinken nonetheless made it clear that the government would not withdraw some of Trump’s signatures, including the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Blinken’s call with Ashkenazi comes the same day when the US revoked sanctions against top officials at the International Criminal Court instituted under the Trump administration.
Blinken said the economic sanctions imposed by Fatou Bensouda, a chief prosecutor of the ICC, and a top assistant in 2019, were “inappropriate and ineffective”, and that they were therefore lifted.
The Hague court is investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by Afghan forces, the Taliban and the US military. It also recently launched an investigation into alleged war crimes by US ally Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups. Neither the US nor Israel are members of the ICC.
Blinken reportedly informed Ashkenazi of the move before it was announced by the foreign ministry.
Last month, the government said it was “definitely” against the ICC to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
