United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and again voiced Washington’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to a statement by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. During his visit to Israel, Blinken remarked that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “the best way to ensure lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike and greater integration for the region.” Additionally, Blinken reiterated that Israel has the right to self-defense, but stated that it is urgent to “de-escalate tensions” in the West Bank and to avoid the conflict spreading to other parts of the region. NN: Their will be peace when Hamas is neutralized.