Israeli and Palestinian security meet in Jordan to de-escalate violence

Palestinian and Israeli security chiefs met in Jordan for the first high-level discussions in years aiming to diffuse tensions in the occupied territories ahead of Ramadan.

It's reportedly feared that the holy month could become a catalyst for a wider escalation of violence, following months of Israeli raids in Nablus, Palestine.

At least 62 Palestinians have been killed so far this year, as well as 12 Israelis and a Ukrainian national, according to PA and Israeli foreign ministry tallies (which may be inaccurate). The escalating violence so far in 2023 builds on that of 2022, which was the bloodiest year on record in the West Bank since the second intifada, or Palestinian uprising, in the 2000s.

In a joint statement released at the close of the summit in the port city of Aqaba on Sunday, which was also attended by US, Jordanian and Egyptian officials, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) expressed “readiness and commitment to work immediately” to prevent further violence.

It is hoped that concrete steps will be taken towards restoring security cooperation in the occupied West Bank, which the PA suspended last month in the aftermath of the deadliest Israeli army raid on the area in decades.

In the last few months alone, hundreds of videos have emerged of Israeli military personnel attacking ambulances, and breaking international law, arresting children without charges or trials.

If you are not safe even in an ambulance then you must be Palestinian.
Evil #Israel pic.twitter.com/uzhE7ksoNx

— Anna Lewandovska (@Anna_AnninaEl) February 24, 2023

Whether the measures will calm the situation in the northern West Bank, where fighting between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Palestinians has been raging for almost a year, remains to be seen.

The Guardian reports that the Palestinian Authority has steadily lost control in the cities of Jenin and Nablus, leading to further Israeli offensive.

Sunday's statement also said both sides would revive efforts towards reaching a “just and lasting peace” deal in the decades-old conflict, and that Israel had committed to halting settlement construction in the West Bank for the next four months (they have made such false promises before).

However, plans to build more than 7,000 new housing units are expected to go ahead after the freeze, as well the retroactive legalisation of nine outposts built by settlers without the permission of the Israeli government.

Under the pretext of “building without a permit,” Israeli authorities issued a demolition order against 20 Palestinian homes in al-Dyouk al-Tahta village near the occupied West Bank city of Jericho. pic.twitter.com/DHZWFpfK6U

— Palestine Highlights (@PalHighlight) February 24, 2023

More Israeli building in the West Bank – which negates the possibility of a two-state solution – has already been approved so far in 2023 than in 2022 and 2021 combined.

Several elements of Israel’s new far-right government are determined to totally annex the West Bank and relax the rules of engagement for Israel’s police and soldiers. There was immediate condemnation of Sunday’s meeting from the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who also has a defence ministry portfolio, who said that “‘calm’ will only be achieved when the IDF hit the terror cities and its perpetrators with tanks and helicopters”.

Several Palestinian groups – both political and military – also urged the PA to withdraw from the talks.

Recent attempts at de-escalation appear to have come to nothing. The Israeli government reportedly agreed to a US-brokered plan to reduce IDF incursions in Palestinian cities last week, only to conduct a rare daytime raid on Nablus’ busy souq three days later, killing 12 and wounding more than 100 people.

Also on Sunday, two Jewish Israelis were shot dead while driving through the West Bank town of Huwara, near Nablus, which is often a flashpoint for confrontations between Palestinians and settlers living nearby.

Retaliatory attacks were reported across the area overnight, with several Palestinian houses and cars set alight.

Israel’s government stated that it would expedite legislation reinstating the death penalty for acts of terrorism committed against Israeli nationals. Given their penchant for not conducting trials, this could be abused easily. Preliminary approval could be given by the Knesset as early as Wednesday.

The death penalty is reserved for the Palestinians, in case there are any doubts in your mind. #Apartheid #Israel pic.twitter.com/nfJphxGCNq

— Abier (@abierkhatib) February 26, 2023

The news follows a step-up in collective punitive measures against Palestinians, such as making it easier to demolish the homes of attackers and strip family members of residency or citizenship, which human rights groups have warned are illegal under international law and will add fuel to the fire.

The parties present in Aqaba agreed to hold another meeting in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh before Ramadan begins in late March to assess progress and discuss the establishment of a joint civilian committee “that will work to promote confidence-building economic measures” for the PA.

Tensions in the divided city of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories often spiral during the Muslim month of fasting, which this year coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Clashes at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, during Ramadan in May 2021 contributed to the outbreak of another round of war in Gaza.

Saturday marked the 29th anniversary of the Al-Ibrahimi Mosque massacre - when American-Israeli Zionist, Baruch Goldstein, entered a mosque and killed 29 Palestinians on the spot.

On Friday, 25 February 1994, the 15th day of Ramadan, the Jewish terrorist settler, Baruch Goldstein, broke into Ibrahimi Mosque as Muslims were performing salah. He opened fire on Palestinians, killing 29 on the spot and 21 more Palestinians that same day during the funerals. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/Rbs3UeaKwH

— Her name is Palestine 🇵🇸😇 (@aysha_assaf) February 25, 2023

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