NEW YORK–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Monday released the following statement after meeting with Foreign Minister of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib.

“This is a critical moment where the focus on the region and world must be on de-escalating the deepening conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. I spoke with Foreign Minister Bou Habib today and we exchanged views on how the United States, Lebanon and Israel can take steps to avoid the devastating consequences of a larger conflict breaking out in the Middle East. We had a candid, serious discussion about the importance of de-escalation in the immediate term, but also the need to establish a plan for the day after in Gaza and a credible path forward for a Palestinian state.”

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