WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan held talks on Sunday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the telephone, according to a press statement from the US Department of State. During the call, they discussed the ongoing efforts to calm tensions in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza and bring the current violence to an end. "The Secretary lamented the loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives and urged engagement to prevent a deepening of the crisis. He also expressed his belief that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security, and prosperity," the statement read. The two ministers reviewed the strategic relations between their two countries and ways to enhance them in all fields, the Saudi foreign ministry said. They also discussed the most prominent developments, foremost of which are developments in Palestine and the region. Prince Faisal and Blinken also discussed other important priorities, such as bolstering Saudi Arabia's defenses, achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and transition to a political process in Yemen, the State Department's statement added. The US secretary of state conveyed his best wishes to the foreign minister and Saudi people for Eid Al-Fitr. Blinken also spoke on Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. They discussed the violence in Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. The US secretary of state reiterated his call on all parties to deescalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence, which has claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including children. Blinken and Shoukry highlighted the importance of the strong strategic partnership between the United States and Egypt and the secretary of state thanked Egypt for their ongoing efforts to support an end to the violence.
