(JNS.org) Jordan’s King Abdullah met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas Monday in Abdullah’s first official visit to Ramallah since December 2012.

The leaders discussed efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, senior Fatah official Mohammed Shtayyeh told AFP Saturday. Abdullah and Abbas also reportedly discussed the recent Temple Mount crisis and broader regional developments.

Although the Jordanian king and Abbas purportedly meet regularly, Abdullah’s visit to Ramallah intended to demonstrate Jordan’s support for the PA amid a power struggle between the PA and the Gaza-ruling Palestinian terror group Hamas.

Ahead of Abdullah’s visit, Jordanian officials coordinated with the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the IDF, notifying Jerusalem that the Jordanian leader’s helicopter would likely fly through Israeli airspace en route to Ramallah. 

Abdullah’s visit came in the aftermath of Muslim riots and Palestinian terror attacks in Jerusalem and the disputed territories, following Israel’s temporary installation of metal detectors at the Temple Mount in response to the July 14 Arab terror attack near the holy site. Abdullah recently announced that he has donated $1.4 million to the Jordanian-run Islamic Waqf, which administers the Temple Mount.

Sephardic News

http://sephardic.org/

editor@sephardic.org