Today’s news / Biden – Abbas
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday about the need for reforms of the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Photo: Jaafar Ashtiyeh/Ritzau Scanpix

Biden – Abbas

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on Wednesday. Blinken, who met Abbas after holding talks with Israeli leaders, spoke of the need for reforms to the Palestinian Authority. Among other issues, the message was that a two-state solution is needed if Arab countries are to normalise relations with Israel. The U.S. has expressed a desire for Abbas to take control of the Gaza Strip after the war. Abbas refuses to do so if the Israeli occupation continues without steps being taken towards establishing a Palestinian state. /ritzau/Reuters/