Antony Blinken : The United States is restoring relations with Palestine that collapsed during former President Donald Trump's tenure

Antony Blinken announced

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that Washington will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem to restore relations with Palestine that collapsed during the tenure of former President Donald Trump.

Palestinian leaders decided to boycott the Trump administration's peace efforts over its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv in 2018, enhancing US policy for decades.

The Trump administration then closed the US consulate in Jerusalem in 2019, saying it was no longer needed because the new US embassy had taken over its functions.

Reopening of the consulate

Blinken said the reopening of the consulate in Jerusalem would be "an important way for our country to engage and provide support to the Palestinian people". However, he did not specify a reopening date. "We are just starting the process," he said as reported by Middle East Monitor. The announcement came after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. "As I said to the president, I am here to underline the United States' commitment to rebuilding relations with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, a relationship built on mutual respect as well as a shared belief that Palestine and Israel share a security measure. equal freedom, opportunity and dignity, "said Blinken.
Blinken said the reopening of the consulate in Jerusalem would be "an important way for our country to engage and provide support to the Palestinian people". However, he did not specify a reopening date.

"We are just starting the process," he said as reported by Middle East Monitor.

The announcement came after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

"As I said to the president, I am here to underline the United States' commitment to rebuilding relations with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, a relationship built on mutual respect as well as a shared belief that Palestine and Israel share a security measure. equal freedom, opportunity and dignity, "said Blinken.


He then announced tens of millions of aid to Palestine, including USD5.5 million (Rp71.5 billion) in emergency aid to Gaza. "This assistance is urgent. We must respond to the enormous needs of society today," said Blinken.

Abbas thanked the US "for its commitment to a two-state solution and maintaining the status quo in the Haram Al-Sharif (Al-Aqsa Mosque)."

Blinken was in the region to help shore up a ceasefire that took effect last week, ending 11 days of Israeli aerial bombardment in Gaza that killed more than 270 Palestinians, including 67 children.
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