The United States celebrated this Sunday rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinian Authoritywho agreed on a plan to reactivate the cooperation pacts.
“Today’s meeting in Aqaba is a positive step for Israelis and Palestinians. It is crucial that the parties take steps to de-escalate and restore calm.”said the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenin their social networks.
Palestinian and Israeli representatives pledged this Sunday to “prevent new acts of violence” and to look for ways to calm the situation after several bloody days, according to a joint statement published after a meeting in Jordan.
After “deep and frank discussions,” the participants in the meeting in the city of Aqaba“reaffirmed the need to commit to detente on the ground and avoid further acts of violence,” says the final eight-point document.
The meeting was aimed at “reinforcing trust” between Israel and the Palestinians and restoring calm in the Palestinian territories, a Jordanian government official told the agency. AFP under condition of anonymity.
The meeting in Jordan is the first of its kind in several years. The meeting was attended by senior Jordanian, Egyptian, Israeli, Palestinian and American officials, the statement said.
At the end of the discussions, the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority “confirmed their willingness and their joint commitment” to stop the implementation of unilateral measures for a period of 3 to 6 months.
The participants also agreed to help both sides to “establish mutual trust” so that “direct dialogue” can take place.
The Palestinian and Israeli parties “will work in good faith to shoulder their responsibilities,” the document added.
The participants will meet again in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh in March. Among them were the head of the Palestinian intelligence services, Majed Farajthe head of the Israeli internal intelligence service (Shin Beth), Ronen Bar and the coordinator of the US National Security Council for the Middle East, Brett McGurk.
King Abdullah II of Jordan stressed to McGurk “the importance of intensifying efforts for calm and détente,” according to the Royal Palace.
Palestinian terrorist organizations such as Hamas questioned the participation of the Palestinian Authority in the meeting.
The talks coincide with a moment of strong tension. While the meeting was taking place, two Israelis were killed in a Palestinian attack in the northern West Bank.
He shooting occurred on a road in a town in the area of the Palestinian city of Nablusin the northern West Bank, when a terrorist came to an intersection and “opened fire on an Israeli vehicle at that point”specified the Israeli Army in a statement.
Israeli forces are searching for the attacker, who managed to flee. The area of the incident, close to Nablus – one of the main centers of Palestinian armed resistance – is an area where Palestinians – both individually and local militias – have carried out attacks in recent months against settlers and Israeli forces.
according to the newspaper Haaretz, the attacker was wearing a T-shirt with the Lions Den insignia. This is about a new Palestinian militia from Nablus that last year has carried out attacks against Israelis and has also been the target of Israeli retaliatory operations. These raids killed part of its members and leaders, mostly young people from the city and its surroundings.
With information from AFP
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Source-www.infobae.com