U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a meeting today with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank and emphasized the need for all parties to take steps to restore calm and de-escalate tensions, according to a statement from U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price.

In their first meeting since Secretary of Defense Galant took office, they discussed the continued U.S. commitment to Israel's security and the strength of the U.S.-Israeli bilateral relationship. The Secretary stressed that the United States is committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to deepening cooperation with Israel in the face of the broader challenges posed by Iran.

The Secretary reiterated his condemnation of the terrorist attacks that Israel has suffered in recent days. He also expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank and stressed the need for all parties to take steps to restore calm and de-escalate tensions, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.