Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Washington on Monday to help stop violent situation from further deterioration in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas met with U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem Donald Blome and discussed the security situation on the ground, including settlement, incursions of West Bank areas under Palestinian control, as well as the holding of the bodies of the Palestinians, said the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Israel withholds bodies of 10 Palestinians from east Jerusalem, said Palestinian activists.

The activists who are seeking to pressure the Israeli government to release the bodies said in a press statement that the Israeli authorities would release the withheld bodies under the condition of burying them outside of Jerusalem, besides imposition of a 5000 shekels fine (about 1300 U.S. dollars) in case the release conditions are violated.

Over 170 Palestinians and around 30 Israelis were killed in the latest upsurge of violence since last October.

The latest round of violence comes in light of a freeze in peace talks between Palestinians and Israel since 2014, after 9 months of U.S. mediated talks. Endit

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