Jordan Times
Monday, October 10, 2005
King in Cairo today for talks with Mubarak
AMMAN (JT) His Majesty King Abdullah heads to Cairo today for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on ways to advance the Mideast peace process, particularly after Israel's pullout from Gaza, a Royal Court official said Sunday.
According to the official, the several-hour visit
to Cairo is part of continued Jordanian-Egyptian coordination and mediation in
order to push forward stalled peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian
officials.
The official said Egypt and Jordan see a chance for advancement on the peace
track after the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip.
It's a good opportunity to revamp talks especially nowadays when there is calm
between the Israelis and Palestinians, the official said, adding that the time
was also ripe to expand peace moves to the West Bank.
Israel last month dismantled 21 Jewish settlements and pulled out its forces
from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation.
The pullout revived hopes of renewed peace talks.
The Monday meeting is also seen as a timely coordination move ahead of Tuesday's
scheduled summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Sharon-Abbas meeting the first since Israel withdrew its troops from the
Gaza Strip was set following mediation efforts by the King.
King Abdullah last week made separate phone calls to Abbas and Sharon urging
them to meet and resume peace negotiations.
The Royal Court official said the meeting was slated for Tuesday. A planned
meeting between Abbas and Sharon on October 2 was cancelled following an
escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip.
The King and Mubarak will also hold talks with Bahraini Monarch Hamad Ben Isa Al
Khalifa, who is currently visiting Cairo, the Royal Court official said.