Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Tuesday urged Israel and the Palestinian Authority to avoid action that could “further inflame” nearly three weeks of unrest, warning of “incalculable consequences”.

“I appeal to all those responsible not to add fuel to the fire now, but to act with moderation and to help calm the situation,” Steinmeier said in Jordan, according to the AFP news agency.

“Anything else would only further inflame the conflict, with incalculable consequences,” he warned at a press conference on the banks of the Dead Sea with Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh.

The latest developments showed “how important it is now to try to attempt a fresh start in the Middle East peace process, to overcome the lack of communication between Israelis and Palestinians. At the same time we see how difficult it is,” he added.

Steinmeier was speaking on the sidelines of a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to discuss “shared security in the Mediterranean region”.

The German minister called on countries in the conflict-riddled Middle East to build a joint security strategy and engage in “institutionalized” talks to resolve crises.

His comments came as violence continued in Israel, with Avraham Asher Hasno being murdered during an Arab rock attack near Hevron.

The victim – a resident of nearby Kiryat Arba – was run over by a truck and fatally wounded after being ambushed by Arab rock-throwers.

In another attack on Tuesday, an IDF officer was stabbed and lightly wounded in the Hevron Hills area after being attacked by a terrorist outside the Arab village of Beit Awwa.

The soldier was attacked as his unit performed a security patrol in the area as part of the wider military crackdown on terrorism nationwide.

The terrorist suddenly ran toward the unit with a knife in his hand, stabbing and wounding one soldier before being shot and eliminated on-site.