'Washington to reopen consulate in Jerusalem': Top US diplomat

JERUSALEM: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Washington will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem, which had historically served as an office in charge of diplomatic relations with Palestine.

His comments came during a press conference following a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah as part of an official visit to occupied Palestine, Anadolu Agency reported.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the recent efforts to consolidate the cease-fire across the entire occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem and Gaza, reconstruction of the devastated Gaza Strip after 11 days of Israeli airstrikes, and ways to achieve a political solution and to develop the US-Palestinian partnership, Anadolu Agency quoting Palestine's official news agency WAFA reports.

During the news conference, Blinken said the US will provideUS $5.5 million in emergency financial assistance to the Gaza Strip and US$32 million in support to international aid organisations.

"We will continue to oppose any unilateral practice that leads to further violence between Israel and Palestinians," he said.

Abbas, for his part, extended thanks to the US administration under President Joe Biden for the efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza, WAFA said.

Abbas underlined the importance of US intervention to pressure Israel to halt its ongoing attacks in occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, which he said "undermine US efforts to solidify the cease-fire and de-escalate the situation."

-- BERNAMA