Israeli leaders visit Jordan to seek calm ahead of Ramadan

Israeli leaders visit Jordan to seek calm ahead of Ramadan

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday met Jordan's King Abdullah II on a mission to Amman seeking to ensure calm in the Palestinian territories during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Tensions flared last year during the fasting month, which starts in April, between Israeli forces and Palestinians visiting Al-Aqsa mosque in annexed east Jerusalem, leading to 11 days of conflict between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is also due to visit Amman on Wednesday, two days after Abdullah made a rare trip to the Israeli-occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.