Israeli, Palestinian officials meet in pre-Ramadan push for calm
WORLD 19 March 2023 - 18:36
Israeli and Palestinian officials were meeting on Sunday in Egypt for talks aimed at calming surging violence that has stoked fears of further escalation once the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins later this week.
Also backed by the United States and Jordan, the meeting follows a Feb. 26 U.S.-brokered conference in Aqaba, the first of its kind in years, that secured Israeli and Palestinian pledges to de-escalate but was challenged by factions on both sides and failed to halt violence on the ground, Reuters reports.
The meeting in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh "aims to support dialogue between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to work to stop unilateral actions and escalation, and break the existing cycle of violence and achieve calm", a statement from Egypt's foreign ministry said.
This could "facilitate the creation of a climate suitable for the resumption of the peace process", it added.
In previous years, clashes have erupted between Israeli police and Palestinians around Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque during of Ramadan, which coincides this year with Judaism's Passover and Christian Easter.
The Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a surge of confrontations in recent months, with near-daily military raids and escalating settler violence amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians.
Over the past year, Israeli forces have made thousands of arrests in the West Bank and killed more than 200 Palestinians, including fighters and civilians.
More than 40 Israelis and three Ukrainians have died in Palestinian attacks in the same period.
Israel pledged in Aqaba to halt discussions on new settlement units in the West Bank for four months and stop authorisation of outposts for six months.
But Israeli Prime Minister quickly appeared to downplay any commitment, saying there would be no freeze in an apparent nod to hardline members of his coalition government.
Last month, Netanyahu's government authorised nine Jewish settler outposts in the West Bank and announced mass construction of new homes in established settlements. The move drew deep dismay from the United States.
The Palestinians aim to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital - territories Israel captured in a 1967 war.
But peace talks have been stalled since 2014 and Palestinians say Jewish settlement expansion has undermined the chances of a viable state being established.
Visiting Israel earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Israeli leaders to take steps to reduce tensions in the West Bank, saying Washington was firmly opposed to any acts that could trigger more insecurity, including settlement expansion and inflammatory rhetoric.
Washington was especially disturbed by settler violence against Palestinians, he said.
Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip condemned the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority for taking part in the meeting, noting it was being attended by the Israeli government "which is escalating its aggression against our people".
But Hussein Al-Sheikh of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation said a Palestinian delegation would be in Sharm el-Sheikh "to defend the rights of our Palestinian people to freedom and independence, and to demand an end to this continuous Israeli aggression against us".
Netanyahu's office declined comment on the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Ukraine, West unleash hybrid operation against Azerbaijan Baku disappointed with Kyiv’s actions
25 March 2024 - 15:25
|
2
|
Syrian scenario for Armenia Russian, Israeli experts’ views for Caliber.Az
26 March 2024 - 17:27
|
3
|
Serbian president warns of difficult days ahead
27 March 2024 - 11:04
|
4
|
Understanding the complexities of Russian-Turkish relations Putin's delayed visit to Türkiye
25 March 2024 - 14:26
|
5
|
Global reactions to UNSC Gaza ceasefire resolution Diverse views, urgent action
27 March 2024 - 18:00
|
Georgian Business Association names main problem for business in Georgia
28 March 2024 - 14:22
S Korea, US, Japan discuss security cooperation against N Korea threats
28 March 2024 - 14:10
Armenian prime minister's office denounces government in exile
28 March 2024 - 14:00
Traders аre buying oil at fastest rate since 2020
28 March 2024 - 13:55
China’s Xi meets foreign business leaders amid jitters over economy
28 March 2024 - 13:42
Armenian MP predicts Russian border guard withdrawal from Azerbaijan border
28 March 2024 - 13:36
Kyrgyzstan warns citizens against online recruitment after Moscow terrorist attacks
28 March 2024 - 13:36
Foreign firms' losses from exiting Russia top $107 billion
28 March 2024 - 13:30
Russia exposes concerns over April 5 Armenia-EU-US high-level Brussels meeting
Moscow warning against growing western influence28 March 2024 - 13:22
US “strongly supports” Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency
28 March 2024 - 13:17
Senegal seeks independence from Paris
France loses another "colony"28 March 2024 - 13:04
Turkish foreign minister condemns PKK terrorism spreading abroad
28 March 2024 - 13:04
Le Figaro confession: France's failed policy towards Azerbaijan exposed
Pressure on Baku proved pointless28 March 2024 - 12:55
Armenian pundit: Pashinyan is called to Brussels to accept Baku’s conditions
28 March 2024 - 12:51
Khankendi continues to be cleared of Armenian weapons
NUMBERS28 March 2024 - 12:39
Russian Foreign Ministry accuses NATO of preparing for potential conflict
28 March 2024 - 12:30
Armenian banks ceasing Russian Mir cards threatens economic stability
Economist warns28 March 2024 - 12:21
Vucic warns of Serbia's Council of Europe departure amid Kosovo debate
Double standards alert28 March 2024 - 12:13
Yerevan does not recognize any “Karabakh government in exile”
Armenian PM’s statement28 March 2024 - 12:04
Azerbaijan to host international conference on mine clearance
28 March 2024 - 11:55
Kazakh leader calls for expansion of transit ties between Asian countries
28 March 2024 - 11:46
Fixing a fractured world in an age of uncertainty
Amashov converses with former Serbian President Boris Tadic/VIDEO28 March 2024 - 11:29
Armenian frontiers announce recruitment to Yerevan airport
28 March 2024 - 11:21
Kremlin urges Telegram to pay attention to use of social network by terrorists
28 March 2024 - 11:20
Western Azerbaijani Community accuses France of meddling in regional affairs
28 March 2024 - 11:14
Japan eyes upgrade of airports, ports for possible defence use
28 March 2024 - 11:08
France plans to turn South Caucasus into battlefield
Azerbaijan's security chief says28 March 2024 - 10:59
Armenia to abstain from CSTO drills amid "frozen" membership
28 March 2024 - 10:47
Azerbaijani Military Institute's cadets hone skills through naval training
PHOTO/VIDEO28 March 2024 - 10:34
Russian intelligence chief's visit to Pyongyang sparks speculation
28 March 2024 - 10:22
Turkish Aselsan secures multi-million-dollar export contracts for advanced defence systems
28 March 2024 - 10:10
Tension mounts within Armenia's ruling party amid recent attacks
28 March 2024 - 09:58
CSTO chief does not rule out Armenia’s possible withdrawal from the organization
28 March 2024 - 09:46
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council of Azerbaijanis condemns European Parliament's biased resolution
28 March 2024 - 09:34
Ammunition found in Kalbajar district in westrern Azerbaijan
28 March 2024 - 09:22
Azerbaijani presidential aide slams ex-NATO chief’s biased report
Exposes financial interests behind28 March 2024 - 09:10
Iran Wire: Iran's diplomatic isolation deepens
28 March 2024 - 08:56
The Iranian conundrum: Shaping a way ahead
28 March 2024 - 07:01
The Vilayat Khorasan between Russia and Tajikistan
28 March 2024 - 05:00
“A new chapter in EU climate policy”
Swedish EU lawmaker talks carbon capture and bioenergy28 March 2024 - 03:00