Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced, lightning visit to neighboring Jordan on Thursday, as regional leaders sought to lay the groundwork for restarting Israel-Arab peace efforts before the Israeli leader flies to Washington for a crucial visit with the US president.
The PM met with Jordan's King Abdullah II, who has been lobbying for a sweeping resolution of Israel's conflicts with the Muslim world, in step with the Obama administration's efforts to link progress on peacemaking to progress on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Netanyahu, however, argues that peacemaking cannot progress until Iran's influence in the region is clipped.
Abdullah pressed Netanyahu in their meeting Thursday to "immediately declare his commitment to a two-state solution, acceptance of the Arab peace initiative and to take necessary steps to move forward toward a solution," according to a royal palace statement.
"I am aware of the need to promote negotiations with the Palestinians and intent to hold [separate] negotiations on diplomatic, security and economic [issues] negotiations, not one of which will come at the expense of the other," Netanyahu told his host, emphasizing, "I believe in changing reality on the ground."
Netanyahu added that he intended to bolster Palestinian security forces and promote economic projects while holding diplomatic talks. He also said that further involvement on the part of regional powers would broaden the circle of peace.
The Prime Minister's Office announced that the two had agreed to be in contact after Netanyahu's meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington next week.
