President wishes Muslim leaders 'peace, happiness and health' after finance minister sparks uproar by saying Palestinian people are 'an invention'

PA leader, members of Israeli opposition say Netanyahu's administration giving tailwind to incidents like deadly Huwara rampage, while allies press Jerusalem to deal with violence

Ramallah threatening to withdraw in what could lead to Aqaba's meeting's cancellation altogether as representatives from Jordan and Egypt won't want to attend without PA

PA President Abbas announces death of one of the chief negotiators of the 1990s deals with Israel that created the Palestinian Authority

Tzachi Hanegbi and Hussein al-Sheikh have met once and held several calls via line established to tamp down tensions, pass along warnings, Palestinian official says

After members bow to American pressure, withdraw resolution urging halt to settlement activity, they issue softer joint statement saying actions imperil prospects for 2 states

Facing US pressure, Ramallah suffices with symbolic Security Council statement panning settlements, while Israel will agree to halt some, but not all, activity beyond Green Line

PA president briefs secretary of state on Palestinian-backed Security Council measure calling for halt to Israel's activities in West Bank

Former US secretary of state says Israel has biblical claim to the land, hedges on two-state solution, dismisses concerns about judicial overhaul

Palestinian leader also wants global body to reaffirm commitment to two-state solution and condemn alleged inflammatory 'unilateral actions' taken by Netanyahu government