US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Israel and the Palestinians to take “urgent action” to restore calm amid escalating violence.
Speaking in Jerusalem, Mr Blinken reiterated US support for the two-state solution as the “best way” to ensure security for both sides.
The new Israeli government opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.
The visit follows two attacks by Palestinians in East Jerusalem over the weekend that killed seven Israelis.
At a news conference after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Mr Blinken offered his condolences for what he called a “horrific terrorist attack”.
The attack of the 21-year-old Palestinian was aimed at worshipers near the synagogue on Friday evening. A few hours later, a 13-year-old Palestinian opened fire on a group of Israelis, injuring a father and son.
Two Palestinians were also shot dead in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank before Mr Blinken’s arrival.
An 18-year-old gunman was killed by an Israeli security guard near the settlement of Kedumim in the northern West Bank on Saturday night. On Monday morning, troops opened fire on a car they said drove off after hitting a soldier, killing the 26-year-old driver in Hebron.
Mr. Blinken said the U.S. has “an ongoing goal for Palestinians and Israelis to enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, opportunity, justice and dignity,” which he said can best be achieved by “realizing the two-state vision” of an independent Palestinian state. next to Israel.
According to him, if this is not done, it will “harm Israel’s security and its long-term identity as a Jewish democratic state.”
“That’s why we are now calling on all parties to take urgent steps to restore calm, to de-escalate – we want to make sure that there is an environment in which we can … at some point create the conditions in which we can begin to restore a sense of security both for the Israelis and for the Palestinians.”
Mr. Netanyahu did not respond to Mr. Blinken’s statement of support for the two-state solution. His newly formed government is made up of parties that are staunchly opposed to the concept of a Palestinian state and support the expansion of Jewish settlements in lands that the Palestinians plan for a state of their own.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law, although Israel denies this.
Israel’s prime minister has vowed to take tough measures in response to the attacks over the weekend. Israeli forces were reinforced in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the homes of both attackers were cordoned off in preparation for demolition.
The government also promised to expand and speed up the issuance of gun licenses to Israeli citizens, and to take action against “terrorist families that support terrorism,” including stripping members of their residency and social security rights.
