RAMALLAH/AMMAN, 13 May 2007 — A Palestinian source said yesterday that President Mahmoud Abbas will not participate in a summit meeting between King Abdallah of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Petra on Tuesday.
Jordanian’s Ad-Dastour newspaper reported yesterday that a trilateral Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian summit is to be held in Petra.
Abdallah is set to visit Ramallah today for brief talks with Abbas. The Palestinian source said that the two would discuss the political situation in the region and Arab countries’ efforts to promote regional peace, including the Arab peace initiative.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr held separate meetings in Amman yesterday with Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib on the eve of the king’s visit.
Discussions during the two meetings focused on the prospects of lifting the year-old economic siege imposed on the Palestinian territories and resuming peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, Palestinian diplomats said.
Tuesday’s talks in Petra between Abdallah and Olmert are expected to focus on the Arab peace initiative and Israel’s concerns over the security of Israeli communities on the border with Gaza.
