Senior Palestinian and Israeli security officials held a rare meeting in Jordan on Sunday, aimed at establishing on-the-ground de-escalation after a recent flare-up in violence in the West Bank, following an Israeli operation that left a number of Palestinians dead last week.
The communique described both sides as committed to achieving a just and lasting peace and to upholding all previously reached agreements. Representatives from the United States, Egypt, and Jordan participated in the talks as mediators.
The identities and exact locations of the representatives, who gathered in the Jordanian port town of Aqaba on the Red Sea, were not disclosed in the official note.
The Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority affirmed their joint willingness to suspend unilateral measures for a period of three to six months as part of the de-escalation effort.
In addition, Israel pledged to pause discussions on new settlements for four months and to refrain from approving any new settlement construction for six months.
A senior Israeli political source cited by EFE noted that Israel remains committed to its plan to regularize nine irregular settlements and to approve the construction of 9,500 new homes in the West Bank, despite the stated pause on new settlement activities.
The same source indicated that no further action on settlements would be taken in the coming months, signaling a temporary halt rather than a permanent change in policy.
The agreement reportedly included the creation of a joint security committee to monitor the renewal and execution of security coordination, as well as the Palestinian Authority’s intent and capability to intensify its counterterrorism efforts in the West Bank.
New meeting in Egypt
In order to follow up on Sunday’s agreements, the parties and mediators agreed to convene again next month in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, located on the Sinai Peninsula, to review progress and adjust measures as needed.
The talks came at a moment of rising tensions. Earlier on Sunday, two Israelis were killed in an armed attack in the northern West Bank, underscoring the fragile security environment that has persisted for weeks in the region.
The recent surge in violence marks the most intense period of fighting in the region this year. In under two months, more than sixty Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a toll driven largely by frequent Israeli detention operations in Palestinian towns, which have often led to clashes with residents.
By contrast, the Sunday attack resulted in Israeli fatalities as well, bringing the Israeli death toll for the year to thirteen after a series of deadly incidents involving Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem over recent weeks.