With its actions, not its personalities.. Blinken waits to judge the Netanyahu government and warns it against settlements and annexation

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pledged to continue opposing Israeli settlements or annexing lands in the occupied West Bank, but stressed that he would judge the next Benjamin Netanyahu government by its actions and not by its far-right members.

"We will continue to unequivocally oppose any actions that undermine prospects for a two-state solution, including but not limited to settlement expansion or steps toward annexation of land in the West Bank or change the historical status quo of holy sites, demolitions and evictions, and incitement to violence.”

The US Secretary of State acknowledged that the prospects for a two-state solution "seem remote," but said that the United States is committed to it, stressing that "everything that keeps us away from it harms Israel's long-term security."

He also indicated that Washington will always condemn "acts of terrorism or violence targeting civilians, and we will hold those who carry them accountable."

Regarding the formation of the next right-wing government in Israel, Blinken said, "We will judge the government by the policies it pursues, and not on the basis of individual personalities."

The right-wing bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his allies from the religious parties and the far-right movement, won the majority of the Knesset seats, by winning 64 seats out of 120, following the elections that took place on the first of last November, which allowed him to start negotiations to form the government.

In this context, Netanyahu signed, last Thursday, a coalition agreement with the Religious Zionist Party, which obtained the position of settlement official in the occupied West Bank, before intensifying talks with religious parties to form the next government.

This comes in light of the Israeli escalation in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, which was condemned by the Palestinian Authority and the European Union, which said that "the killing of 10 Palestinians in 72 hours shows the use of lethal force by Israeli security in violation of international law."