US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenvisited yesterday occupied West Bank meet with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbasand called for a de-escalation of the violence that has erupted in the region, while recognizing that the Palestinians have limited prospects in their broader struggle for independence.

Blinken visited Abbas at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah in a trip that coincided with one of the West Bank’s deadliest months in years. More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in the area since January, mostly in Israeli military raids aimed at quelling growing “terrorist activity” and arresting Palestinian militants.

Friday night violence came in Israel. A Palestinian shooter killed seven civilians near a synagogue in an East Jerusalem settlement – the worst attack in the city since 2008 – and there are fears of further escalation in the coming weeks.

“Both Palestinians and Israelis are experiencing growing insecurity and fear in their homes and communities, places of worship,” Mr. Blinken said. “We think it’s important to take steps to de-escalate, end the violence, reduce tensions, and also try to lay the groundwork for more positive action going forward.”

Creation of the state

Blinken said the United States continues to hope for a negotiated peace settlement that could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. But negotiations on this score have stalled for years, and the new Israeli government is more interested in the possible annexation of Palestinian lands than in the possibility of creating a state entity.

In an effort to help achieve this goal, Blinken announced $50 million in new US funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides aid to the Palestinians.

His meeting with Abbas, 87, came a day after Blinken met in Jerusalem with Netanyahu, who made similar calls to Israelis and Palestinians to ease tensions.

Far-right minister Ben Gvir is pushing for the reinstatement of the death penalty for Palestinians who attack Israelis.

Abbas has accused Israel of depriving Palestinians of their rights by overseeing the “annexation” of land in the West Bank and the demolition of Palestinian homes, steps he says make it difficult to reach a peace deal.

“We have found that the Israeli government is responsible for what is happening these days,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir vowed on Monday to seek the death penalty in the electric chair for Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis.

“Whoever kills, harms and kills civilians should be electrocuted,” Ben Gvir said during a meeting of the far-right Jewish Power Party.

Ben Gvir is pushing for the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to pass a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis. Last November, Ben Gvir made the introduction of the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis a condition for joining Netanyahu’s coalition government. Currently, the death penalty is not practiced in Israel.

The far-right minister also said he called for a curfew in Palestinian neighborhoods that pose a threat to Israel and the arrest of those who carry weapons.

On Sunday, he ordered the demolition of 14 Palestinian-owned homes in occupied East Jerusalem under the pretext of lacking building permits. Tensions have escalated in the Palestinian territories in recent days amid a series of attacks.

Far-right Ben Gvir has often voiced racist views on Palestinians and called for their displacement. He also repeatedly participated with Israeli settlers in the storming of the Al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem.

In November, Israeli President Isaac Herzog was heard saying in an audio message later leaked that “the whole world is concerned” about Ben Gvir’s far-right views.