Palestine decides to suspend all forms of coordination with Israel

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Authority decided Monday to suspend all forms of contacts and security coordination with Israel after the Israeli army raided the West Bank city of Jenin.

"The Palestinian leadership decides to stop all contacts and meetings with the Israeli side and to continue with halting the security coordination in response to the Israeli aggression on Jenin," said Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh following a meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.

He added that all recent understandings and commitments with Israel reached at the Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh meetings "no longer exist."

The meetings were held on Feb. 26 and March 19, respectively, to restore calm across the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli army raided Jenin early Monday, including its refugee camp, killing at least eight Palestinians and injuring nearly 50 others, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

Nearly 190 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of this year, according to the Health Ministry. At least 25 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar