Jordan Times
Thursday, October 6, 2005
Abbas, Sharon to meet Tuesday — King
AMMAN, October 6 (JT) - Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon are expected to meet on
Tuesday after mediation efforts by His Majesty King Abdullah, a senior Royal
Court official said.
The official told The Jordan Times that King Abdullah separately telephoned
Abbas and Sharon, urging them to meet and resume peace negotiations.
"Following the King's efforts to help revive the peace process, the Palestinian
president and the Israeli prime minister agreed to meet on October 11 and try to
find a solution to pending issues," the official said.
A planned meeting between Abbas and Sharon on October 2 was cancelled following
an escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip.
The Associated Press reported that a senior Israeli government official,
speaking on condition of anonymity, said Sharon's senior aide Dov Weisglass
would meet with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Friday to try to
bring about a Sharon-Abbas summit next week. Erekat confirmed the meeting with
Weisglass.
During the telephone calls, the Monarch told the two leaders that he will visit
the Palestinian territories and Israel "when circumstances are adequate," the
Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
King Abdullah stressed "the importance of working to guarantee a lull and end
escalation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides."
He also called on Israelis and the Palestinians to help "pave the way for
dialogue and talks and build on" what has been achieved after the Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza.
Reiterating that both sides should be committed to fully implement the roadmap
to the Middle East peace process, the King urged trust-building measures.