Rampaging Israeli settlers burn Palestinian homes, cars in Nablus
Israel and Palestinians agree steps to curb violence
Israeli settlers have carried out arson attacks on Palestinian houses in Nablus hours after Israeli and Palestinian officials pledged to implement measures to de-escalate tensions amid a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank.
Abdullah Al-Huwari, 36, an eyewitness, reported that “large numbers of settlers attacked the village of Huwara [in occupied West Bank]”, setting fire to homes and cars, Al Jazeera reported.
“Wherever I turn my eyes, I see the flames of a burning house,” he said.
The Palestinian Red Cross said 98 people were treated, most after inhaling tear gas, while Israeli emergency services reported three Israelis were injured after being hit by stones.
In a joint statement at the end of the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba in Jordan on Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said that they would work closely to prevent “further violence” and that they “reaffirmed the necessity of committing to de-escalation on the ground”.
They emphasized the “joint readiness and commitment to work immediately to stop unilateral measures” for three to six months, according to the statement.
Israel was committed to stop “discussing setting up any new settlement units for four months and stop approving any new settlements for six months”, a joint statement said.
Host nation Jordan, along with Egypt and the US, considered “these understandings as major progress towards re-establishing and deepening relations between the two sides”, the statement said.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in a statement said the US recognised the meeting was a “starting point”.
“There is much work to do over the coming weeks and months to build a stable and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Sullivan said of the Aqaba meeting.
“Implementation will be critical.”
The two sides also agreed to meet again next month in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
Hamas: Meeting was ‘worthless’
The Hamas group, which governs the besieged Gaza Strip, condemned the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority for taking part.
An official from the group said the meeting was “worthless” and would not change anything.
The ruling Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had earlier defended the meeting.
“The decision to take part in the Aqaba meeting despite the pain and massacres being endured by the Palestinian people comes from a desire to bring an end to the bloodshed,” it said on Twitter.
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also has responsibilities over Israeli settlements in the West Bank, quickly said he would not abide by any agreement on freezing settlement construction.
“I have no idea what they spoke about or not in Jordan,” Smotrich wrote on Twitter.
“But one thing I do know: there will not be a freeze on the building and development in settlements, not even for one day (it is under my authority).”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also tweeted saying that settlements won’t be frozen, which seems to be contradicting the statement that was released from the meeting in Jordan.