Dubai: Palestinians remained on edge yesterday as the US and Israel attempted to repair their political fall-out.
Al Jazeera reported sporadic violence between Palestinians and Israeli forces in various parts of the West Bank.
US Vice-President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to patch things up after the latest exchange of harsh rhetoric between the two countries.
Netanyahu also praised President Barack Obama, distancing himself from comments made by his ultra-nationalist brother-in-law labelling the US President an "anti-semite".
"I have a deep appreciation for Obama's commitment to Israel's security, which he has expressed many times," Netanyahu said in a statement, disavowing himself from comments made by Hagai Ben-Artzi, his wife's brother.
Softening stance
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had called Israel's colony announcement an insult and pressed it to take steps to show it was serious about new peace moves, but Tuesday Clinton softened her words and emphasised "the unshakeable bond" between the US and Israel.
Jordan's King Abdullah II yesterday demanded the international community take firm action to stop Israel's actions in occupied Jerusalem.
"[Occupied] Jerusalem is a red line and the world should not be silent about Israel's attempts to get rid of [occupied] Jerusalem's Arab residents, Muslims or Christians," the king told visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Calls for a third intifada have been growing, although analysts doubt whether it will happen.
