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Lapid meets with Jordan’s Abdullah in Amman for first time as premier
Jordanians say leaders discussed Palestinians, but Israel makes no mention of issue, saying meeting focused on opportunities stemming from normalization agreements
Prime Minister Yair Lapid met Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the Royal Palace in Amman for the first time as premier Wednesday.
While the Jordanian side said the two discussed a two-state solution with the Palestinians, an Israeli statement made no mention of the issue.
In its statement, the Royal Hashemite Court confirmed that during the meeting, which came days after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited Amman, Abdullah reaffirmed the need for a “just, comprehensive, lasting peace on basis of the two-state solution.”
The Jordanian statement also emphasized the need to “bolster regional security, stability, and development, which must include Palestinians.”
The Israeli side said the leaders discussed opportunities to expand bilateral ties on food security, agriculture and transportation, namely through advancing the Jordan Gateway Industrial Park and the joint Israel-Jordan-UAE solar-desalinization deal signed last year.
They also discussed joint tourism initiatives in the Gulf of Aqaba and Eilat, the statement read.
The recent visit of US President Joe Biden to the region and the opportunities it produced for expanded regional cooperation were also brought up during the meeting, according to Lapid’s office.
It said the meeting was held in a warm atmosphere.
Lapid’s visit came after Abdullah hosted Abbas at his palace Sunday, their fourth meeting in five months.
Abbas briefed Abdullah on “the latest political developments in Palestine and the challenges facing our people as a result of the continuing Israeli crimes,” according to the official PA news agency Wafa.
Abdullah in turn “stressed the firm position of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan towards the Palestinian cause and the kingdom’s unswerving support for the Palestinian people in obtaining their just and legitimate rights,” according to Wafa.
Earlier this month, Lapid and Abbas spoke by phone in what is believed to be the first direct call between an Israeli prime minister and the PA chief in five years.
Lazar Berman contributed to this report.
