High-level Israeli, Palestinian officials to meet over surge in violence

Highlevel Palestinian and Israeli delegations will meet in Jordan on Sunday both sides said in an attempt to reduce surging tensions ahead of the Muslim holy month of RamadanIsrael said the prime ministers national security adviser as well as the chief of the Shin Bet domestic security agency were to attend The head of the Palestinian intelligence services as well as advisers to President Mahmoud Abbas were expected to joinThe presence of top officials at the meeting as well as delegations from Egypt Jordan and the United States underscored the severity of the crisis It was also a rare highlevel meeting between the sides coming during a time of rising tensions and after the Palestinians cut security coordination with Israel over the violenceAbbas office said the Palestinians would stress the need to stop all Israeli unilateral actions An Israeli official said the meeting was meant to ease tensions ahead of Ramadan and came after an American requestThe meetings Palestinian attendees were confirmed by a Palestinian official A Jordanian official also said the meeting was meant to stop Israeli unilateral actions build confidence and lead to more comprehensive contacts between the sides He said the meeting will take place in the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba JordanAll three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorised to discuss the meeting with the mediaPalestinians who oppose any official engagement with Israel said they would protest the meeting while the Islamic militant Hamas group which rules the Gaza Strip criticised the meetingAlso read Israel and Gaza exchange of fire follows deadly West Bank raid 10 Palestinians killedIts not clear what the talks might achieve Israel has pledged to continue fighting militants in the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority often has little control Israel also is led by a farright government with members that oppose concessions to the Palestinians and favour settlement construction on occupied lands sought by the Palestinians for a future state Last week Israeli officials advanced over 7000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank according to activist groups that attended the planning meetingViolence between Israelis and Palestinians has surged since Israel stepped up raids on West Bank cities towns and villages following a spate of Palestinian attacks last spring The bloodshed has spiked this year with more than 60 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem according to a tally by The Associated Press Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed 11 peopleIsrael says the raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks The Palestinians say the further entrench Israels 55year openended occupation of lands they want for a future state as well as undermine their own security forcesRamadan this year coincides with the weeklong Jewish holiday of Passover and worshippers from both faiths are expected to flock to the holy sites in Jerusalems Old City which are often a flashpoint for violence between the sidesClashes erupted at a key Jerusalem holy site last year and tensions at the site helped spark an 11day war with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in 2021This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever