Blinken says US opposes anything that puts two-state solution 'further from reach' after violence in Jerusalem

US Urges, Israel-Palestinian Restraint , as Violence Soars. On January 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint and ease tensions following a wave of retaliatory violence. On January 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint and ease tensions following a wave of retaliatory violence. NBC reports that Blinken addressed the ongoing violence while speaking in Cairo, just hours before he would make a two-day visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank. NBC reports that Blinken addressed the ongoing violence while speaking in Cairo, just hours before he would make a two-day visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank. We will be encouraging the parties to take steps to calm things down. There is no question that this is a very difficult moment, Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, via NBC. We will be encouraging the parties to take steps to calm things down. There is no question that this is a very difficult moment, Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State, via NBC. Last week, violence erupted following an Israeli military raid on a militant stronghold in the West Bank city of Jenin which left ten people dead. . Following the raid, a Palestinian shooting attack in an east Jerusalem settlement claimed the lives of seven Israelis. On January 30, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man in the city of Hebron. NBC reports that the most recent death in the flashpoint city of Hebron brings the toll of Palestinians killed in January to 35. The wave of violence comes weeks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office, promising to take a tough stance against Palestine. NBC reports that Blinken's meeting will be the highest-level of engagement with Netanyahu since he retook control of Israel last month. NBC reports that Blinken's meeting will be the highest-level of engagement with Netanyahu since he retook control of Israel last month. Blinken's diplomatic agenda in Jerusalem is reported to also include Russia's war in Ukraine, tensions with Iran and ongoing crises in Lebanon and Syria. Blinken's diplomatic agenda in Jerusalem is reported to also include Russia's war in Ukraine, tensions with Iran and ongoing crises in Lebanon and Syria. Blinken's diplomatic agenda in Jerusalem is reported to also include Russia's war in Ukraine, tensions with Iran and ongoing crises in Lebanon and Syria