(February 26, 2023 / JNS) Israel agreed on Sunday, during an emergency security meeting between Israel and Palestinian officials in Aqaba, Jordan, to reduce its counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria.
“We are giving it a chance. We will only act in the face of ticking bombs or an urgent operational need,” said an unnamed senior security officer, according to Ynet.
The meeting, a bid to reduce tensions in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip ahead of Ramadan, was also attended by U.S. and Egyptian representatives.
The Israeli delegation reportedly included Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) head Ronen Bar, with the Palestinian team being led by Palestinian Authority intelligence chief Majed Faraj. The United States was represented by White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk.
“Israel accepted the American offer to participate in the meeting, during which the security representatives from the participating countries will discuss ways to calm tensions in the region ahead of the [Muslim holiday] month of Ramadan,” according to a statement by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
Israeli media quoted a Jordanian official as saying that “the political-security meeting is part of stepped-up ongoing efforts by [Amman] in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and other parties to end unilateral measures [by Israel] and a breakdown that could fuel more violence.”
The meeting comes amid an ongoing Israeli counter-terrorism offensive in Judea and Samaria prompted by a wave of deadly attacks.
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