Violence and settlement activity are undermining the viability of a two-state political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the US State Department said on Wednesday as it discussed Secretary of State John Kerry's plan to visit the region.
Speaking a day after Kerry announced his intent to visit the region to try to help reduce tensions, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the secretary was not affixing blame when he said a "massive increase in settlements" over the past year had been followed by the current outbreak of violence.
Kerry has "highlighted our concern that current trends on the ground, including this violence, as well as ongoing settlement activity, are imperiling the viability of eventually getting to a two- state solution," Kirby said.