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What happened: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met King Abdullah II in Amman yesterday to discuss the rising tension in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

• After the meeting, Lapid said, “We agreed that we should work together, especially in the run-up to Ramadan and Passover, and worry about the tense security situation in Jerusalem.”
• Lapid added, “Our special relationship with the Kingdom of Jordan promises a better future for our children. Peace is not only about being neighbourly, but it is also our moral responsibility to both of our people.”
• According to the Jordanian news agency Petra the King “emphasised the need to step up efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution, In a way that will ensure the establishment of a sovereign and sustainable independent Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
• On Wednesday, Lapid met with Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh, the most senior official engaged with liaison with Israel. After their meeting al- Sheikh wrote on twitter that he, “reconfirmed the necessity of having a political horizon based on signed agreements and the resolutions of international legitimacy and stopping unilateral measures that obstruct the two-state solution.”
• Earlier in the week al- Sheikh met with Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s bureau chief along with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Ghassan Aliyan. They discussed a range of security regulations that Israel would relax ahead of Ramadan.

Context: From the outset, the Bennett- Lapid government has prioritised re-establishing close working ties with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

• Over the last few months, all of Israel’s most senior leaders; Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defence Minister Gantz and President Isaac Herzog have all met with the King. This was Lapid’s second meeting, having first met in September.
• Lapid and King Abdullah II also discussed a range of regional and international issues, including Israel’s growing ties with Gulf states, and joint projects in renewable energy.
• Prime Minister Bennett has not met with any Palestinian leaders, but has given his consent for other senior officials to engage, when their remit has focused on security, economic and civil cooperation, but not a political process.
• The diverse nature of the Israeli coalition means that it’s unlikely there will be a return to peace negotiations, but neither will there be any moves towards annexation. Prime Minister Bennett and other senior officials do however subscribe to Micha Goodman’s concept of ‘shrinking the conflict‘.
• There is concern over rising tension and a spike in terror attacks. Since the beginning of March there have been four attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank, three stabbings and one car ramming.
• In addition there are daily reports of rocks and Molotov cocktails targeting Israeli cars driving in the West Bank.
• In the last month seven Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, either in gun battles with the IDF or whilst engaging in terror activity like throwing Molotov cocktails.
• The current assessment within the security establishment does not see a link between the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and West Bank.
• In a further attempt to maintain quiet, Israel has agreed to add another 2,000 work permits for Palestinians living in Gaza, to work inside Israel.  This raises the overall number to 12,000 – with a view to extend it further in the future.

Looking ahead: The police will augment their forces as they preparing for the possibility of further attacks, specifically lone wolf attacks stabbings in the Old City of Jerusalem.

• Next week is the holiday of Purim, thousands of Jews are expected to visit the Western Wall and the Old City while dressed up in costumes. Police officials are worried that terrorists may also put on costumes to blend in and carry out attacks.
• This year, several religiously significant days for Muslims and Jews overlap. For example, the second Friday of Ramadan coincides with Passover eve, and Eid al-Fitr coincides with Memorial Day in Israel.
• All this reinforces the importance of Israeli and Palestinian security officials maintained ongoing dialogue, to improve coordination and reducing friction.