简体中文
The United States condemns "in the strongest terms possible" the terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians that have resulted in the murder of three Israelis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday.
"The situation is simply too volatile, too dangerous, and it is not going to lead to the outcome that people want, which is to have a peaceful resolution of the differences," Kerry said at a press conference held in Boston after the annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations.
Three Israelis were killed and at least 15 others wounded in a series of attacks in Jerusalem and central Israel on Tuesday, in the gravest outbreak of Palestinian violence since the current round of unrest has started.
The recent violence broke out last month with clashes at East Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound and quickly spread throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Kerry called on all persons of responsibility to condemn the violence on either side, and to avoid provocative statements that can inflame the tensions even further.
The top U.S. diplomat said during the past weekend he exchanged views on the situation with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and with other regional leaders as well.
"I expressed the deep concerns of President (Barack) Obama and all those of us in the United States about escalating tensions, and I continue to urge all sides to take affirmative steps to restore calm," Kerry said.
At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated the U.S. policy of seeking a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying it is "the most effective way" to address the issue.
"In the meantime, we've urged both sides to try to exercise restraint and to prevent the further escalation of tensions in a region that's been roiled by them for generations," Earnest said. Enditem
