Israelis and Palestinians agree on measures to curb rising violence
Talks in Egypt emphasized the need to prevent destructive actions in the holy city of Jerusalem during Ramadan.
Israeli and Palestinian officials have agreed meeting in egypt Take steps to de-escalate tensions ahead of Islamic holy month ramadan.
Talks held on Sunday in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh emphasized the need to prevent disruptive actions in the holy city of Jerusalem when Ramadan begins later this week. rice field.
In a joint statement following talks attended by officials from the United States, Egypt and Jordan, the two parties reaffirmed commitments made at a meeting in Aqaba last month. This includes Israel’s commitment to suspend discussion of new settlement units for four months.
The Israeli pledge was largely symbolic. Israel recently approved the construction of thousands of new settlements, but had no immediate plans to approve additional construction.
Still, mere talk of a slowdown in settlement activity could invite backlash from Israel’s right-wing coalition, which is dominated by settler leaders and supporters.
A similar meeting in Jordan on February 26 concluded with promises to defuse tensions. It was quickly derailed by some new bursts of violence.
Palestinian gunman shot dead two Israeli settlers Jewish settlers rampage in Palestinian towns in occupied West Bank Huwarakill Palestinian men and destroy property what is called a pogrom.
Israeli raid on Nablus Killed 11 Palestinianslowering expectations for the second installment.
As Sunday’s talks were taking place, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on Huwala’s vehicle. severely wounded an Israeli mansaid a medical official. The man’s wife was treated for shock.
The Israeli military said the wounded man and the Israeli army opened fire and beat the assailant. The man was later arrested, according to the military. His condition was not immediately clear.
Huwara is on a busy road in the northern West Bank, mostly used by armed Israeli settlers.
Last year, Israeli forces arrested thousands of people in the West Bank, killed more than 200 Palestinians, and killed more than 40 Israelis and three Ukrainians in Palestinian attacks.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, conflict has surged in recent months, with near-daily Israeli military raids and Escalating Violence by Israeli Settlers.
Mechanisms to curb violence
“Both sides agreed to establish mechanisms to curb and counter violence, sedition and inflammatory conditions and behavior,” the joint statement said. Both sides added that they would report on progress at a follow-up meeting in Egypt next month.
Details of the mechanism have not been disclosed.
According to the statement, the parties to the talks also stressed the need for both Israel and Palestine to actively prevent actions that would destroy the sanctity of the holy site of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Large numbers of Jews are also expected to visit the important holy site of Jerusalem, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Acts Palestinians consider provocative.
Under a longstanding arrangement, Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there. However, in recent years, the number of worshipers has increased, and some people pray quietly.Such scenes have caused fear among Palestinians that Israel is attempting to change the status quo.
Clashes at this location in 2021 triggered the 11-day Israeli war on Gaza.