包装一个在一连串暴力事件中访问中东在以色列和巴勒斯坦之间，美国国务卿安东尼·布林肯周二宣布，美国高级官员将继续留在该地区，继续讨论“双方可以采取的实际步骤的建设性想法，以降低温度”，尽管领导人表示和平解决方案仍然遥不可及。
“我们不幻想高度紧张的局势会在一夜之间消散。但是，如果各方有意愿，我们准备支持这里的努力，并与该地区的伙伴合作，”布林肯在新闻发布会上说。
国务卿在以色列的接触没有显示出乐观的理由。在与巴勒斯坦权力机构主席马哈茂德·阿巴斯(Mahmoud Abbas)的联合讲话中，这位长期执政的巴勒斯坦权力机构领导人表示，他准备与美国合作，推进巴勒斯坦人的权利，但将最近的暴力袭击归咎于以色列，并指责其他大国对此视而不见。
“我们申明，以色列政府应对这些天发生的事情负责，因为它的做法破坏了两国解决方案，违反了已签署的协议，因为国际社会没有努力拆除占领和定居点制度，也没有承认巴勒斯坦国及其在联合国的正式成员资格，”他宣布。
阿巴斯还声称，巴勒斯坦权力机构已经“用尽了与以色列的一切手段来制止其侵犯行为”，并被迫作出保护其人民的决定，这可能是指在以色列国防军上周对杰宁难民营进行致命袭击后，巴勒斯坦权力机构暂停了与以色列的安全合作。
以色列政府称这次袭击是一次紧急反恐行动，并称9名死者中有6名是激进分子，但是巴勒斯坦人谴责这次事件是一次大屠杀。
当局担心这次袭击可能引发了最近一系列针对以色列人的袭击，包括周五在东耶路撒冷犹太教堂发生的枪击事件，造成7人死亡。
布林肯表示，他对“在过去一年不断升级的暴力中丧生的无辜巴勒斯坦平民表示哀悼和悲伤”，并宣布美国将向联合国近东巴勒斯坦难民救济和工程处捐款5000万美元，以支持巴勒斯坦难民的需求。
国务卿还表达了拜登政府对巴勒斯坦权力机构的一些疑虑，称两人讨论了该政权“继续改善其治理和问责制”的重要性，并强调美国期待“双方积极谴责任何暴力行为，无论受害者或肇事者是谁。”
但是，尽管布林肯在访问期间一再敦促不要升级，阿巴斯和他会见的众多以色列官员都没有回应他的直接和平请求。
布林肯还多次重申了美国长期以来对实施两国解决方案的承诺，但对目前暗淡的前景持现实态度，称当前的目标是“恢复平静”
“从长远来看，我们必须做的不仅仅是缓和紧张局势，”他说。
Blinken meets with Abbas amid heightened Palestinian tensions with Israel
Wrapping up a visit to the Middle East amid cascading violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced that senior U.S. officials would remain in the region to continue discussions on "constructive ideas for practical steps that each side can take to lower the temperature" despite indications from leaders that a peaceful solution remains well beyond reach.
"We have no illusions that heightened tensions can be diffused overnight. But we're prepared to support efforts here and with partners in the region if the parties have the will to do so," Blinken said during a news conference in Jerusalem.
The secretary's engagements in Israel have revealed little reason for optimism. During joint remarks with President Mahmoud Abbas, the long-running leader of the Palestinian Authority said he was ready to work the U.S. to advance the rights of Palestinians but placed blame for recent violent attacks solely on Israel and accused other powers of turning a blind eye.
"We affirm that the Israeli government is responsible for what's happening these days, because of its practices that undermine the two-state solution and violate the signed agreements, and because of the lack of international efforts to dismantle the occupation and the settlement regimes, and the failure to recognize the Palestinian state and its full membership in the United Nation," he declared.
Abbas also claimed that the Palestinian Authority had "exhausted all means with Israel to stop its violations" and had been forced to undertake decisions to protect its people, perhaps in reference to its suspension of security cooperation with Israel following a deadly raid in the Jenin refugee camp carried out by Israeli Defense Forces last week.
The Israeli government has described the raid as an urgent counterterrorism operation and said that six of the nine killed were militants, but Palestinians have denounced the event as a massacre.
Authorities fear the raid may have motivated a number of recent attacks on Israelis, including a shooting at an East Jerusalem synagogue of Friday that claimed seven lives.
Blinken expressed said he expressed "condolences and sorrow for the innocent Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives in escalating violence over the last year" and announced that the U.S. would contribute $50 million to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which supports the needs of Palestinian refugees.
The secretary also expressed some of the Biden administration's misgivings about the Palestinian Authority, saying the two discussed the importance of regime "continuing to improve its governance and accountability" and emphasized that the U.S. was looking "to both sides to actively condemn any acts of violence, regardless of the victim or the perpetrator."
But despite Blinken's repeated urging against escalation during his visit, neither Abbas nor the numerous Israeli officials he met with echoed his direct pleas for peace.
Blinken also reaffirmed the U.S.' long held commitment to implementing a two-state solution multiple times, but was realistic about currently dim prospects, saying the immediate goal was "restoring calm."
"Over the longer term, we have to do more than just lower tensions," he said.
