<p class="content-excerpt">Blinken and Abbas discuss 'joint efforts to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people'</p> <div class="components"> <p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washington's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the State Department said Saturday.</p> <p>The move came as Israel's hawkish former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who does not endorse&nbsp;<a class="link" title="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1664099857-only-32-of-israelis-support-two-state-solution-despite-lapid-s-claim" href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1664099857-only-32-of-israelis-support-two-state-solution-despite-lapid-s-claim" _mce_href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1664099857-only-32-of-israelis-support-two-state-solution-despite-lapid-s-claim">the two-state idea</a>&nbsp;– sealed his return to power following Tuesday's election and launched negotiations on forming what could be the most right-wing government in Israel's history.</p> <p>In a call with Abbas on Friday, Blinken "further reaffirmed our commitment to a two-state solution" –&nbsp;<a class="link" title="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1652157774-coexistence-in-israeli-education-it-s-impossible-to-hate-someone-once-exposed-to-their-story" href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1652157774-coexistence-in-israeli-education-it-s-impossible-to-hate-someone-once-exposed-to-their-story" _mce_href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1652157774-coexistence-in-israeli-education-it-s-impossible-to-hate-someone-once-exposed-to-their-story">the coexistence of Israel and a Palestinian state</a>&nbsp;– the State Department said in a statement.&nbsp;</p> <p><a class="link" title="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/1614030960-blinken-two-state-solution-is-the-best-way-to-ensure-israel-s-future" href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/1614030960-blinken-two-state-solution-is-the-best-way-to-ensure-israel-s-future" _mce_href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/1614030960-blinken-two-state-solution-is-the-best-way-to-ensure-israel-s-future">Blinken</a>&nbsp;and Abbas also discussed "joint efforts to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian people and enhance their security and freedom."</p> <p>The election result came against the backdrop of soaring violence between Israel and the Palestinians.</p> <p><br></p> </div>