Jordan internet hosting Israeli-Palestinian talks to avert escalation in violence
The one-day assembly within the Red Sea port of Aqaba, to be attended by US President Joe Biden’s adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, will convey high Israeli and Palestinian safety chiefs collectively for the primary time in a few years, together with representatives of key regional events.
Amman,UPDATED: Feb 26, 2023 07:18 IST
An Israeli policeman secures a taking pictures assault web site in east Jerusalem. (AP picture)
By Reuters: Jordan will host a gathering on Sunday between high Israeli and Palestinian safety and political officers with US participation to halt a current surge in violence that has stoked fears of a wider escalation forward of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, officers mentioned.
They mentioned the one-day assembly within the Red Sea port of Aqaba, to be attended by US President Joe Biden’s adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, will convey high Israeli and Palestinian safety chiefs collectively for the primary time in a few years, together with representatives of key regional events.
The discussions are a part of Jordan’s stepped-up diplomatic engagement with Washington and regional accomplice Egypt to revive calm in Israel and the Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank and belief between the 2 sides, the officers mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity.
The assembly is aimed toward giving Palestinians hope for a political future, a senior Jordanian official advised Reuters. If its goals are achieved, “it will be reflected on the ground,” he mentioned.
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The assembly provides an opportunity to halt a surge in Israeli-Palestinian clashes in current months that has sparked Arab anger and worldwide concern a couple of slide again to a wider Israeli-Palestinian battle.
“Such a meeting has not happened in years… It’s a major achievement to get them together,” mentioned the Jordanian official, who additionally requested anonymity.
In earlier years, clashes have erupted between Israeli police and Palestinians round Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque on the peak of the Ramadan fasting month that coincided with Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter.
Jerusalem is holy to all three faiths. Jordan is the custodian of al Aqsa, a significant mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.
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At least 62 Palestinians, together with gunmen and civilians, have been killed this yr, the Palestinian well being ministry mentioned. Ten Israelis and a Ukrainian vacationer died in Palestinian assaults in the identical interval, in response to Israel’s overseas ministry.
Earlier this month, Jordan’s King Abdullah met Biden and held talks with McGurk wherein the US – a staunch ally of Israel, Egypt and Jordan – warned of the threats to regional safety and lobbied for a resumption of stalled US-sponsored talks on Palestinian statehood.
In addition to averting violence, it’s hoped Sunday’s assembly will halt unilateral measures by Israel, the Jordanian official mentioned. “That “may finally result in additional political engagement.”
Jordan has been involved about stepped-up Jewish settlement constructing, and has accused Israel of making an attempt to alter the established order in Jerusalem’s holy websites. Israel denies the allegation.
Right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to energy has deepened Arab worries over insurance policies that embody accelerated Jewish settlement-building and more durable safety offensives in Palestinian territories within the West Bank.
Most world powers view as unlawful the settlements Israel has constructed on land it captured in a 1967 struggle with Arab powers. Israel disputes that and cites biblical, historic and political hyperlinks to the West Bank, in addition to safety pursuits.
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Published On:
Feb 26, 2023
