Palestine: Talks underway to prevent conflict during Ramadan

Amman/Gaza: In order to avoid a repetition of the last year's Ramadan violence in occupied Palestinian territories, a diplomatic mission is going on. Jordan's King Abdullah has met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and had a two-hour talk in this regard, Arab News reported.

This comes while Palestinian officials predicted that the occupied West Bank is on the brink of a conflict breakout.

Earlier in March, King Abdullah had visited Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and discussed ways to avoid conflicts during the holy month for Muslims. Also, Israel's coordinator in Palestine has visited Cairo for talks on security with the Egyptian administration.

Last year, unrest had happened at the Al Aqsa Masjid, following which Israeli settlers started evicting Palestinians from their homes. This has led to the eruption of violence followed by an 11-day attack of Israel on Gaza.

Along with the start of Ramadan, there are upcoming events like the revival of Land Day on March 30, Palestinian Prisoners' Day on April 17, the anniversary of the Great March of Return, the anniversary of last year's Gaza conflict, and Nakba Day on May 15, all with enough potential to spark unrest.

Amidst this, the terror group Daesh has shot two Israeli police officers to death on Sunday. They stabbed four Israel nationals to death last week.

Israel leaders have met to discuss the security situation in the West Bank and Gaza strip during Ramadan. But the Jewish nation had decided to increase the number of Palestine workers from Gaza into it to 20,000, from 10,000. It will also lift some import restrictions and implement plans for Palestinians to visit Jerusalem. The measures are expected to ease the surging tension.

Analyst Mostafa Ibrahim told Arab News that Israel is intended to calm the situation, with the US's backing, in the Middle East, given the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine.