(VOVworld) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he does not want the ongoing deadly clashes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank to spiral into armed confrontation with Israel.

A young Palestinian throws a bottle towards an Israeli vehicle during clashes in Nablus (Photo: AFP)

Addressing a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation on Tuesday, Abbas said he told Israel that Palestine doesn’t want a military or security escalation, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of security measures. Abbas said he instructed Palestinian security forces to avoid violent conflict and that he hoped for a peaceful solution reached via diplomatic means.