Kerry: Israelis and Palestinians agree to calm situation in Jerusalem

US Secretary of State John Kerry stressed the Israeli and Palestinian’s full commitment to calm the situation in Jerusalem which are threatening to escalate into a third Intifada.

Speaking during a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh in Amman, Kerry said that the two sides had agreed on practical and constructive steps to mitigate the escalation and move forward in the peace efforts in the region, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to maintaining the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his commitment to non-violence and calm.

Kerry said: “It is clear to me that they are serious about working on the effort to create de-escalation and to take steps to instil confidence that the status quo will be upheld.”

He stressed that the US is “working to smother the sparks of immediate tension so that they don’t become a fire that is absolutely out of control. And the first thing we have to do is restore calm before you can talk about other alternatives. The United States stands ready to be engaged, provided the parties themselves begin to create the climate.”

“The proof will not be in the words but in the actions.”

Yesterday, Kerry held a trilateral meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ways to calm the situation in Jerusalem and revive the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Tensions in East Jerusalem have been exacerbated because of the intensification of settlement activities in the city and after Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque.