Saudi, Jordan kings meet on Palestinian issue

Secretary of State John Kerry worked Monday to corral Israeli and Palestinian leaders into a new and ambitious peace process that includes reviving parts of a long-dormant plan embraced by the Arab world a decade ago, officials said. The 2002 initiative that Kerry wants to revive parts of would have provided Israel recognition throughout the Arab world in exchange for a pullout from territory conquered in 1967.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was to begin a two-day visit to Turkey on Sunday to discuss troubled efforts to end the Middle East conflict, officials said.Abbas was expected to arrive in Ankara Sunday afternoon and meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before talks Monday with President Abdullah Gul, an official from Gul's press office said.The leaders will "discuss and consult on ... bilateral ties, the latest situation in Palestine and regional developments, primarily the Middle East peace process," a statement from the presidential palace said.

Israel’s chief peace negotiator said Thursday it’s “good news” that the Arab peace initiative is negotiable and that Arab nations are supporting peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians at a difficult time in the region. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni told reporters after meeting Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday afternoon that it’s in the interest of Israel, the Palestinians and the international community to resume peace talks. “We need to find a way to do so, and we’re working on it,” she said.

AMMAN – Considering a visit to Jordan? Some of its most breathtaking wonders, from the amazing rock formations and remains of ancient life in Petra to the lowest point on Earth at the Dead Sea, are now just a click away as Jordan becomes a leader in using technology to promote tourism. In a bid to boost tourism revenues after two bad years, Jordanian tourism authorities this month introduced the live web cam streaming from five top attractions, including Amman’s ancient citadel, the Red Sea port of Aqaba and the Amman skyline.

Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has arrived in Turkey, the NTV news channel reported on Wednesday, a day after Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas began a four-day visit.Meshaal was currently in Istanbul, NTV said, adding that it was not immediately clear whether he would meet with Abbas.Turkish foreign ministry officials contacted by AFP would not comment.Abbas arrived in Ankara Tuesday afternoon as Palestinian officials reported disagreements between his Fatah faction and Hamas over the formation of a unity government.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said on Wednesday the PLO Executive Committee will decide at the weekend whether to go ahead with indirect peace talks with Israel."Now we can't say yes or no. The Palestinian leadership will meet on Saturday and decide and say its final word," Abbas said in a statement after meeting Jordan's King Abdullah II."After that, we will inform (US Middle East envoy George) Mitchell whether we are ready to start the negotiations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II on the Middle East peace process during a previously unannounced visit to Amman on Tuesday, the palace said.The visit comes as Israel and the Palestinians are at loggerheads over holding direct peace talks and ahead of an Arab League meeting with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who is currently in the Jordanian capital.

Saudi King Abdullah and his Jordanian counterpart Abdullah II discussed on Friday developments in Lebanon and called for stability and security to be strengthened in the country."The two leaders stressed their backing for Lebanon's efforts to enhance its stability, security, unity and national accord," a Jordanian palace statement said.The Saudi monarch and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier on Friday urged Lebanon's rival factions to avoid violence, in an unprecedented joint visit to Beirut to defuse a tense political situation.