Previous meeting between King Abdullah and PM Sharon
Photo: GPO
Jordan’s King to visit Israel, PA this week
Abdullah to meet with Israeli, Palestinian leaders in bid to advance peacemaking, curb violence
Jordan’s King Abdullah II will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this week for separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to help advance the Middle East peace process, a government official said Saturday.
Abdullah will first visit the West Bank town of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas then continue on to Tel Aviv for a separate meeting with Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.
He said the time and other details on the meetings are still being worked out.
A Royal Palace statement read on state television said the king’s visit was “within the framework of his efforts to ensure the continuation of the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians and to garner support for the Palestinian Authority.”
‘Voice of reason’
It said the visit follows Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which Abdullah has said he hoped would be part and parcel of the internationally backed road map peace initiative.
The statement said Abdullah’s talks with Abbas will focus on “building confidence with Israel, ceasing all forms of violence and allowing the Palestinian Authority to spread its control over all the lands which Israel withdraws from.”
Following White House talks with Abdullah on Thursday, U.S. President George W. Bush said he asked the Jordanian monarch to visit Sharon and Abbas to help advance Mideast peacemaking.
“It will be very helpful to have your voice of reason there to talk to both leaders,” Bush said.
