Monday: Jordan's Abdullah, Abbas to meet in Ramallah

King's visit to PA aimed at fostering 'peace and creation of independent Palestinian state'

Elior Levy, AFP|Published: 11.20.11 , 23:43

Jordan's King Abdullah is scheduled to visit Ramallah on Monday for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Ynet reported. Plans for the surprising visit were made public Sunday night following the arrival of a Jordanian delegation to the West Bank city.

Jordan's state Petra news agency confirmed the planned visit.

"King Abdullah II will on Monday visit Ramallah for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the framework of Jordan's efforts to support the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people," the agency said.

The visit, which Petra said would express support for efforts "to achieve peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders," comes at a delicate political time for Abbas.

He faces US and Israeli anger over his bid for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, as well as his plans to finalize the implementation of a reconciliation deal between his secular Fatah party and the Islamist Hamas.

"We consider this visit an important part of King Abdullah's support for President Abbas on the direction of Palestinian policy as well as for the Palestinian people, particularly under the current circumstances," the Palestinian official told AFP.

King Abdallah was scheduled to visit the West Bank in 2007, but the visit was cancelled at the last minute due to "harsh weather conditions which would not allow Abdullah's helicopter to land in the Palestinian Authority's territory." The Palestinians said at the time that the visit was cancelled due to what they claimed was Israel's inability to commit to certain issues that could have advanced the peace process.

Relations between Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom have been strained over the stalled peace process, and King Abdullah has repeatedly criticized Jerusalem in the media.

Speaking to Jordanian intellectuals in September, Abdullah said "Jordan and the future of Palestine are stronger than Israel," and added that Israel's situation has worsened since the beginning of the "Arab spring."