U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced the reopening of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem — a move that restores ties with the Palestinians that had been downgraded by the Trump administration. The move infuriated the Palestinians, who view East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the capital of their future state. Abbas heads the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, whose forces were driven from Gaza when Hamas seized power there in 2007. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens to a reporter's question during a news conference at his hotel on Tuesday in Jerusalem.

Source: CBC News May 25, 2021 10:52 UTC