By Aryeh Savir
JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu returned to Israel a short while ago after meeting Thursday, Jan. 16, in Amman with King Abdullah II of Jordan. The meeting was not previously announced.
PM Netanyahu and King Abdullah discussed recent developments in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. According to the Prime Minister’s office, Netanyahu stressed the important role played by Jordan in the efforts to bring about an agreement. He further emphasized that Israel holds the security arrangements of the utmost significance, including Jordan’s interests, and that any future agreement will take into consideration the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, signed 20 years ago.
PM Netanyahu and the King also discussed an array of economic cooperation between both countries in a number of fields as well as other regional matters.
The two reportedly last met in March 2013.
Since his ascension to the throne King of Abdullah has maintained a policy of aloofness regarding Israel-Jordan relations, publicly backing the Palestinian positions in all instances.
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Aryeh Savir is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency in Israel. He may be contacted via en@tazpit.org.il
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