US defends Israel-Palestine accord amid rising violence, backtracking

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House defended on Monday a nascent troubled accord to restore calm in Israel and Palestine as violence continues to rage, and as Israeli leaders dispute their commitments under the agreement.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby hailed the meeting, which brought together senior officials from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and the US, saying it represented "the first meeting of its kind in decades with political and security representation from all participants."

"It also resulted in the first agreement of any kind in many years. The Aqaba Communique includes commitments from the Israeli and the Palestinian sides to deescalate and prevent further violence. The two sides also affirm their commitments to all previous agreements between them and to work towards a just and lasting peace," he said.

The diplomatic text included eight bullet points, including one in which Israel and Palestine "confirmed their joint readiness and commitment to immediately work to end unilateral measures for a period of 3-6 months." That includes a commitment from Israel "to stop discussion of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorization of any outposts for 6 months."

In the hours after the text's release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will be no change in his government's plans to build additional Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.

“Construction and arrangement in Judea and Samaria will continue according to the original planning and schedule without any changes. There is not and will not be any freezing,” Netanyahu said on Twitter, using the Biblical name that refers to the West Bank.

Asked specifically about Netanyahu's remarks, Kirby said "if you look at the communique, it's just not going to be discussing additional settlements now for six months, that's a positive sign, we think."

"We've been very clear with the Prime Minister and the new government about our position on settlements: obstacle to peace. We want to see a viable two state solution. We don't believe that additional settlements work to that end. We've been very consistent," he said.

In addition to Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, said on Twitter: "What happened in Jordan (if it happened), will remain in Jordan."

Meanwhile, violence has been flaring in the West Bank with a group of Israeli settlers went on a rampage in the town of Huwara late Sunday, setting fire to several homes and cars and killing at least one Palestinian while injuring dozens of others, after two settlers were killed in an apparent attack.

Kirby reiterated the US condemnation of the violence, saying the "violence we saw over the weekend is is just another example of why it's important that we get both sides together to work on ways to de-escalate," maintaining the fact that the communique was produced is a "good sign."

Ben-Gvir on Monday called for the resumption of the assassination policy of Palestinian leaders. Ben-Gvir, who is also the head of the far-right Jewish Power Party, made the call during a party meeting held in the Avitar settlement outpost near the West Bank city of Nablus.

The Israeli minister said he is determined to legalize the Avitar settlement outpost, adding that he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing families to stay in the settlement.

An Israeli court had ordered the dismantling of the Avitar outpost as it was built on Palestinian land.​​​​​​​