Senior Israeli and Palestinian security and political officials, as well as U.S. representatives, will meet in Jordan on Sunday. The meeting is to discuss ways to cease the recent uptick in violence. There have been fears of wider escalations before Ramadan.
The one-day summit in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba will bring together for the first time in many years senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials as well as leaders from major regional groups. Brett McGurk, the Middle East advisor to President Joe Biden, is reportedly set to attend.
Officials who wished to remain anonymous stated that the meetings were part of Jordan’s enhanced diplomatic engagement with the United States and regional partner Egypt to restore stability in Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank and confidence between the two sides.
Hope for the future
According to a senior Jordanian official, the purpose of the meeting is to give Palestinians hope for a political future. “It will manifest itself on the ground,” he said, if its objectives are achieved.
The meeting gives an opportunity to put a halt to the recent increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence. This has fuelled Arab anger and international concern about a resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on a bigger scale.
“Having them all in one room is a tremendous accomplishment,” the Jordanian official, who also requested anonymity, said.
In the past, the holiest days of Ramadan have coincided with the holiest days of the Jewish and Christian calendars, resulting in deadly clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians near the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is highly regarded by all three religions. In the Old City of Jerusalem, the al Aqsa Mosque is under Jordanian protection.
At least 62 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have died so far in 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. According to the Israeli foreign ministry, eleven Israelis and one Ukrainian tourist were murdered in Palestinian attacks during this period.
When Jordan’s King Abdullah met with Biden and spoke with McGurk earlier this month, the U.S., a major ally of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, warned of threats to regional security and advocated for the resumption of delayed U.S.-sponsored talks on Palestinian independence.
Israel expanding into New settlements
The Jordanian official expressed optimism that the gathering on Sunday will avert violence and unilateral Israeli actions. This “may motivate further political involvement in the future.”
The increased development of Israeli settlements has concerned Jordan, which has accused Israel of attempting to disrupt the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites. This is a charge that Israel vehemently refutes.
The return of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised Arab apprehension over his intentions. He is known to want to accelerate the Jewish settlement expansion and intensifying security offensives in West Bank territories.
Israel’s illegal colonies on land seized from Arab governments in 1967 are strongly denounced. Israel objects, citing its security requirements and its historical, biblical, and political links to the West Bank.
