U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls for calm in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders following a month of bloody violence.

Months of violence exploded in recent days with an Israeli military raid in the West Bank and attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem, leaving more than 40 people dead. 

The escalating violence follows the electoral comeback of Benjamin Netanyahu as the country’s prime minister and the formation of the most right-wing government in Israeli history. 

Joining the discussion: 

• Abdel Bari Atwan is the Editor-in-Chief of Rai al-Youm, an Arab news and opinion website. 
• Ariel Kahana serves as the senior diplomatic correspondent for the Israel newspaper Israel Hayom. 
• Gerald Feierstein is former U.S. Ambassador. During his 41-year career he held nine overseas postings, including Deputy Consul General in Jerusalem. He’s currently a Distinguished Senior Fellow on U.S. Diplomacy and Director of Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Middle East Institute. 
• Said Arikat served as spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. He’s currently Washington correspondent for the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds Daily.

Good seeing President of Israel @Isaac_Herzog today in Jerusalem. We discussed the strong U.S.-Israel relationship & our commitment to Israeli democracy & security. We also spoke about Iran, the situation in the West Bank & Negev Forum Working Group meetings in UAE. pic.twitter.com/Rgqkpvsv5Z

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 30, 2023

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shuttled from Israel to the occupied West Bank, appealing for an end to resurgent violence and reaffirming Washington's backing for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict https://t.co/fpvwrhMZXn pic.twitter.com/dHC0DN0wqX

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 31, 2023