Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Egypt to ease tensions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
After weeks of repeated outbreaks of violence with numerous deaths, Israel and the Palestinian Authority want to find ways to end the escalation. Both sides agreed on a mechanism to curb the violence during talks in Egypt on Sunday. It is scheduled to take effect this week at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
A statement said both Israelis and Palestinians must avoid any action that would disturb the peace of the holy sites in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
Both sides reiterated the need for de-escalation and confirmed commitments made in February. These include Israel’s pledge to refrain from considering new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank for four months and to withhold approval of existing Jewish settler outposts for six months. Representatives of the US, Egypt and Jordan also participated in the negotiations.
Clashes in the West Bank are escalating
The Palestinian Authority governs only part of the Palestinian territories. The radical Islamist group Hamas is in charge of the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, militant groups operate independently of the Palestinian Authority.
In the West Bank, which Palestinians claim for the formation of their own state, violent clashes between Palestinians, Jewish settlers and Israeli security forces have increased in recent months. Police and army raids almost every day.
Palestinians repeatedly attacked settlers, soldiers and other Israelis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religiously nationalist government wants to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank. In addition, some members of the government reject the formation of a Palestinian state.
(APA/Portal)