Palestinian leader asks Blinken to hold off on appointing special envoy; US advance team will discuss issue further with Abbas in meeting this weekend

State Department spokesman says Biden to take series of steps aimed at boosting ties to Palestinians, but admits Jerusalem mission has 'unique sensitivities'

State Department's point-man on the conflict to be elevated to position of special envoy to Palestinians; US embassy's Palestinian unit to report directly to him, not ambassador

Envoy enters home on capital's Emek Refaim Street, after old official residence in Herzliya was sold by Trump administration in 2020

From 7:45 a.m. to noon next Thursday, those without appointments can apply at American diplomatic mission amid extended wait times for appointments

Caution comes after spate of terror attacks in Israel and repeated clashes on Temple Mount as Passover and Ramadan coincide

US Embassy source says Washington supports PM's diplomacy; stresses there is no 'red line' that would bring about American military intervention

Review: David Friedman's memoir 'Sledgehammer' finds the former ambassador unsnarling years of broken diplomacy for a new Middle East, though others recall a less tidy narrative

Two months in, Ambassador Thomas Nides sets out his approach to the role, explains why he won't visit settlements, hails the 'beautiful' government, insists Biden 'gets it' on Iran

In new book, former ambassador says comment 'knocked everyone off their chairs'; says his own inflammatory remarks on Obama, J Street were simply a tactical error