Although sporadic violence is a tragic everyday reality in the region, things are particularly bad following Israeli incursions into Al Aqsa mosque, because of which protests against Israel’s occupation garnered momentum across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
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An Israeli official says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a “review” of the status of certain Palestinian neighborhoods of east Jerusalem – an effort that could affect the residency rights of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
For instance, the death toll cross 50 Palestinians this week, as Israeli forces two Palestinian relatives in the city of Hebron in the West Bank after they allegedly launched a stabbing attack against soldiers.
After initially reporting that the Palestinian attackers of a motorist in the West Bank were disguised as ultra Orthodox Jewish men, the army later said reports of the disguise were unconfirmed.
The Palestinian Health Ministry later confirmed that a Palestinian was recovering in hospital after being shot by an Israeli.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced over the weekend an agreement between Israel and Jordan to install security cameras at the hilltop compound that has been at the center of weeks of unrest.
Kerry, who met Jordan’s King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman on Saturday, said Israel gave assurances it has no intention of changing the status quo at the site, which is holy to Muslims and Jews.
A month of nearly daily Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings, against Israeli civilians and security forces has killed 10 Israelis, while 52 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 30 said by Israel to be attackers and the rest in clashes.
Jordan will continue to defend the rights of the Palestinian people with all its might and to work to ensure that the status quo at Al Haram Al Sharif does not change.
The Israeli army says its forces shot a Palestinian who tried to stab an Israeli soldier near a sensitive holy site in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Israeli forces control the site in Jerusalem and Jordan is its religious custodian but the site has religious significance to Jews and Muslims.
Last month, clashes between Arab youths and Israeli police broke out after the latter reported receiving intelligence on the eve of Rosh Hashanah that masked demonstrators had barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque while erecting barriers outside.
Both Israeli and Jordanian officials said arrangements have not yet been discussed in detail, and it was not clear when the cameras would start operating.
There was no immediate comment from Abbas, but Saeb Erakat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said Abbas told Kerry “he should look into the roots of the problem – and that is the continued occupation”.
Palestinians said they were waiting to see whether the arrangements announced by Kerry would change the situation on the ground.
On Friday, Israel lifted age restrictions barring young men from joining prayers at the mosque, a key source of tension, and prayers passed without incident.
Two terrorists attacked Israelis at a bus stop near a synagogue in the town of Beit Shemesh, halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
“I think people are still confused about what Netanyahu is up to, and we don’t know what the coming days will bring”, said Ahmad Rweidi, Abbas’ adviser on Jerusalem affairs.
Palestinian political scientist George Giacaman said that while Kerry may succeed in easing the latest tensions, a broader political solution is needed.
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“That’s why we’ve asked the United Nations for global protection, which is a legitimate request”, Abbas said. But he said the USA has signaled that it may take one last push at advancing peace.
