US And Israel Discuss Regional Issues, Iran’s ‘Destabilizing Behavior’

US and Israeli foreign ministers held a telephone call on Tuesday to discuss “Iran’s destabilizing behavior, among other issues, the State Department announced.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen consulted over issues of Iran and “Israel’s integration into the region,” a possible reference to US efforts to expand the Abraham Accords by convincing Saudi Arabia to establish relations with Israel.

An announcement by State Department also said that “Secretary Blinken conveyed concern over the recent escalation of violence, which has directly affected US citizens in the West Bank, and underscored the need for parties to work further to further de-escalate the situation.”

Israeli media reported on Tuesday thatthe Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)is buying weapons and loyalty in the West Bank using Iranian money. 

The PIJ has established several armed cells and recruited dozens of gunmen in the northern West Bank, specifically in Jenin and Nablus. “The PIJ has become a dominant force in the northern West Bank, largely thanks to the financial aid it receives from Iran," a source told Israel's Jerusalem Post.

Since March, the Iranian regime has intensified its support to Palestinian militant groups and has publicly urged them to attack targets in Israel. Tehran officials expressed gratification at a serious flare-up of violence in April and pledged more support.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Tuesday that Israel seized millions of dollars’ worth of digital funds intended for use by Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Quds Force arm of the Revolutionary Guards.