US vows to correct relations with Palestinians
The US has promised to correct ties with the Palestinians by reopening a consulate in Jerusalem and help rebuild the conflict-torn Gaza Strip.
US Secretary of Express Antony Blinken's responses came after conference Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank.
He also met Israel's prime minister in Jerusalem, pledging "America's ironclad dedication to Israeli security".
More than 250 persons were killed in 11 days of fighting between Gaza militants and Israel previous this month.
Almost all the victims were in Gaza.
The violence came after weeks of increasing Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews.
Hamas militants began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the website, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
The fighting ended previous Friday with an Egyptian-brokered truce.
Mr Blinken tweeted that he discussed "deepening America's partnership with the Palestinians" during his Tuesday's talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Primary Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh found in Ramallah.
He promised to advance the procedure of reopening the US consulate in Jerusalem that had served as its diplomatic channel to the Palestinians.
The consulate was closed by President Joe Biden's predecessor Donald Trump in 2019, angering the Palestinians and straining bilateral relations.
The former president put the Palestinians under the authority of his ambassador to Israel when he relocated the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
A senior Palestinian official told the AFP media agency that discussions were taking place over reopening the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) business office in Washington DC, that was closed through the Trump administration.
To greatly help rebuild Gaza, the Biden administration has said it'll ask Congress for $75m (£52m) in assistance.
He added that the US would also provide $5.5m in quick disaster assistance for Gaza and $32m to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
But Mr Blinken stressed that Washington would make sure that Hamas, which controls Gaza, didn't benefit.
Hamas is designated as a good terrorist group by the US, EU, UK and Israel.
