Shabak, NSC heads with Netanyahu
Shabak, NSC heads with NetanyahuHaim Tzach/GPO

An emergency summit will be held in Jordan this morning (Sunday), in an attempt to end the recent security escalation between Israel and terrorist groups in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, which has seen 11 Israelis murdered in terrorist attacks in Jerusalem so far this year. The hope is to reduce tensions ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan, which has often seen an increase in violence.

The Israeli side will be represented at the summit by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Director Ronen Bar, the director of the Foreign Ministry, Ronen Levi, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea and Samaria Ghassan Alian.

The Palestinian Authority will be represented by Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and by PA intelligence chief Majed Faraj.

The PA will demand that the US guarantee the agreements which are reached so as to have a mechanism to turn to if Israel violates the agreements.

Israel has no intention of agreeing to many of the PA's demands, which include stopping its military operations in Shechem (Nablus) and Jenin, cancellation of its decision to normalize nine Jewish outposts in Judea and Samaria, and freezing all Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria.

The Americans propose to establish a joint mechanism in which Israel will coordinate its military operations with the PA. A US representative would participate in this mechanism. The Israeli government is less than enthused about this proposal.

In addition to Jordan and the US, Egypt will also mediate between the two sides at the summit.

The Prime Minister's Office stated that "Israel accepted the American offer to participate in the meeting, during which the security representatives from the participating countries will discuss ways to calm security tensions in the region ahead of the month of Ramadan."

Last Wednesday, Israeli security forces operated in Shechem in an attempt to arrest a group of known terrorists. During the operation, terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces, who responded in kind. Seven terrorists were killed in the gun battle, including two who were involved in the murder of Staff Sergeant Ido Baruch by terrorists last year near the town of Shavei Shomron in Samaria.

According to the Palestinian Authority, three civilians were also killed during the battle, and 102 people were injured.