Olmert met with King Abdullah

PM Olmert met with Jordan's king Abdullah secretly in Amman. The two discussed the frozen peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and the need to get it going once again.

Abdullah is concerned that a deterioration in the situation in the West Bank may start a surge of refugees to his realm. Jordan has a large population of Palestinians and the regime is worried that more will destabilize its control.

Abdullah called on Israel to examine favorably the initiative of the Arab League which called for a complete peaceful solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Abdullah expressed support of the establishment of a Palestinian state and said that it is the only solution that will bring peace and stability for the entire region.

The two also discussed trade issues between Israel and Jordan.

Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994.

(editorial note: I posted a Webpoll on the right hand side of the blog and would appreciate your participation)

King Abdullah expresses support of Abu Mazen

King Abudllah of Jordan spoke with President Abu Mazen and expressed support of the PA under his rule and the need for Palestinian unity.

Adullah called for Hamas and Fatah to put an end to the fighting between the factions.

Meanwhile fighting continued in Gaza.

Around noon there was a gunfire outside the FM building in Gaza and later in the afternoon another firefight ensued outside the presidency residence of Abu Mazen in Gaza.

The ceasefire which was proclaimed yesterday between Fatah and Hamas proved ineffectual today.

Bush meets with Iraq's Prime Minister

President Bush met today with Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki. This is part of the American President's visit to the kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is considered a moderate Arab state, has a peace accord with Israel and a border with Iraq. Bush's visit is part of an American campaign to secure local assistance in an effort to stablilize the situation in Iraq.
Pres. Bush refused to give a date for the withdrawl of American troops from Iraq. Bush claims that setting a deadline for a withdrawl would cause unrealistic expectations. He also expressed the view that leaving Iraq while the country is full of terrorists would jeopardize the well-being of Iraqi citizens and provide a boost for the terrorists.
Political analysts believe that part of Bush's visit is dedicated to gain support for his position regarding the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Moderate and secular Arab states have no interest to see the fundamental state of Iran holding such a weapon, as one of its goals is to spread the Islamist revolution which ocurred there in the late 1970's.