Ramallah, 31 January 2023 (dpa/MIA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke out on Tuesday against unilateral steps in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, while acknowledging that hopes for a Palestinian homeland are fading.

At a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Blinken announced the payment of another $50 million in support for the UN Palestinian Relief and Works Agency.

He reaffirmed US support for a two-state solution – which refers to the creation of an independent Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel.

Abbas accused Israel of being responsible for the recent escalation of violence. He spoke of a lack of international support for the Palestinians in the face of continued Israeli occupation.

He said, “the Israeli government is responsible for what is happening today, because of its practices that undermine the two-state solution and violate the signed agreements.”

He said Palestinian efforts to defend their rights had encouraged “the Israeli occupier to commit more crimes and violate international law.”

On Monday Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called on both sides to de-escalate.

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians recently escalated dangerously again. On Friday, seven people were killed while exiting a synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath, in the worst attack by a Palestinian in Israel in 15 years.

The attack came just one day after an Israeli army raid in Jenin, in what Israeli Defence Forces said was an attempt to quash a planned attack against Israel.

A total of 10 Palestinians were killed – including several militants. Since the beginning of the year, 35 Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with the army or in attacks of their own.

Israel took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Today, more than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Israeli government continues to expand settlements on land designated to be part of a Palestinian state – actions the UN Security Council sees as a violation of international law.