Jordan Times
Monday, February 26, 2007
Jordan, Egypt urge
Palestinians to unify ranks
Agencies
KING ABDULLAH HELD talks Sunday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the
first leg of a four-nation tour aimed at relaunching Israeli-Palestinian
peacemaking.
Their meeting focused on efforts by rival Palestinian factions to form a unity
government following a power-sharing deal that has complicated US efforts to
kick-start peace talks and so far failed to secure an end to a crippling Western
aid boycott.
The two leaders called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fateh Party and
the Islamist Hamas movement to implement the unity accord signed in Mecca on
February 8 and to unify ranks, said Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman
Awad.
He said Sunday's meeting was part of an effort to create a "common Arab vision"
to restart the Middle East peace process ahead of the Arab summit in Saudi
Arabia in March.
Awad said the final result of the summit will be presented at a meeting of the
so-called Quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union
and Russia to be held in Egypt in April. The tour by the Monarch coincides with
regional visits by Palestinian leaders to build support for their planned new
unity government and any future negotiations with Israel.
On Monday, Abbas will also meet Mubarak, while King Abdullah heads to Saudi
Arabia that day, followed by Britain and then the United States.
King Abdullah is holding consultations with several Arab leaders before heading
to Washington for talks with President George W. Bush and top administration
officials.
The King was seeking "a united Arab position to revive the peace process and
help both Israelis and Palestinians overcome obstacles hindering their return to
the negotiating table," the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
On Saturday, King Abdullah urged a Palestinian unity government to adhere to
conditions laid down by the main players in the Middle East peace process.
"It's not just... the international players, but also the Arab countries are
also expecting the new Palestinian government to adhere to the policies set out
by the Quartet," the King said in an interview on Israeli television.
Western countries suspended aid to the Palestinian government after the election
win last year of Hamas.
The Quartet has hinged any resumption of aid on the formation of a new
government that respects previously signed peace accords, renounces violence and
agrees to recognise Israel.
The King also warned in the interview that current efforts to reach an agreement
between Israelis and Palestinians mark the "last opportunity" for peace in the
Middle East.
"We find ourselves at this very important crossroads, in all our lives, in all
our futures, whether it is Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian or Arab Israeli."
Amman has played a central role in efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel
and the Palestinians in recent years.
The Middle East peace process has been stalled since the start of the
Palestinian Intifada in 2000, despite the launch in 2003 by the Quartet of a
roadmap for the establishment of a Palestinian state side by side with Israel.
Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also keen on reviving an Arab initiative
adopted in 2002, effectively offering Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for
the return of territory occupied by the Jewish state since 1967.