At a meeting in Amman’s capital on Wednesday, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid exchanged views.
The Jordanian king and Lapid met for the first time on Wednesday since Lapid took office a month ago. Jordan’s Royal Court said in a statement that the two parties discussed the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
King Abdullah II reiterated his belief in the necessity for “a political vision” to achieve a just, comprehensive, sustainable peace and “to boost regional security” that includes the Palestinians. Keeping the peace in the Palestinian territories and adhering to Jerusalem’s historical and legal status quo as a holy city was also a priority for him, the statement said.
US Vice President Joe Biden’s recent trip to the Middle East was also reviewed by the two leaders, according to a joint statement.
Palestinians were given a form of civil authority under an agreement struck in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Still, discussions to fulfill the deal and create a Palestinian state failed. Palestinian and Israeli negotiations broke down in April 2014 when Tel Aviv refused to halt settlement expansion and denied the release of Palestinian captives imprisoned prior to 1993.
