Israel and representatives from the Palestinian Authority held low-key talks in Amman over the weekend.

According to the Times of Israel, Interior Minister Silvan Shalom met senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in a bid to calm tensions between the two sides, which have increased in the past week.

Mr Shalom, a senior Likud MK, is also the chief negotiator in peace talks with the Palestinians.

While on a recent trip to London, Mr Shalom said he believed Israel and the Palestinians “need to renew negotiations and try to reach understandings and agreements.” He also said he was in favour of “frank talks that are conducted discreetly”.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are running high. Two Palestinians were shot dead in the West Bank on consecutive days last week, and hundreds of settlement homes were approved by Israel.