Israel and Palestine Agree to Curb Violence Ahead of the Month of Ramadan, Prevent Actions of Provocation in Jerusalem

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Joi Ito)

JAKARTA - Israeli and Palestinian officials have agreed to establish a mechanism to counter violence and incitement, ahead of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan this week.

The talks emphasized the need to prevent provocative actions at Jerusalem's holy sites during the holy month for the Muslim Ummah.

"Both sides agreed to establish mechanisms to curb violence, incitement and inflammatory acts and actions," said a joint statement on Sunday, launching The National News March 20.

However, the joint statement did not provide further details on the mechanism for implementing the agreement.

The agreement follows talks in Egypt attended by officials from the United States, Egypt and Jordan. The two sides will report on progress at a follow-up meeting in Egypt next month, the statement continued.

The parties reaffirmed commitments made at a meeting in Aqaba on February 26, including Israel's pledge to halt discussions on new settlement units for four months.

The Aqaba meeting failed to stop the violence on the ground, despite promises by Israelis and Palestinians to reduce tensions that were repeated at Sunday's talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

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. Meanwhile, more than 40 Israelis and three Ukrainians were killed in the Palestinian attacks.

The Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a spike in confrontations in recent months, with almost daily Israeli military raids and increasing violence by Jewish settlers, amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians.