Blinken in Israel calls for calm, backs 'vision of two states'

STORY: The American diplomat's visit comes after a Friday attack in Jerusalem where a Palestinian gunman killed seven Israelis, and last week an Israeli raid on the West Bank city of Jenin that left 10 Palestinians dead.

Blinken also re-affirmed American support for "the vision of two states," meant to grant Palestinians self-rule.

"As I said to the prime minister, anything that moves us away from that vision, is , in our judgement, detrimental to Israel's long-term security and its long-term identity as a Jewish and democratic state," Blinken said.

Netanyahu, a hawkish conservative, has disdained calls to restart negotiations with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, while Netanyahu's current government plans to increase Jewish civilian settlements in the West Bank, areas Palestinians hope will someday be part of a future Palestinian state.