PA president tells Jordanian king settlement halt is not a pre-condition but rather an obligation, in Ramallah meeting.
By JPOST.COM STAFFPA President Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II 311(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that there are no signs negotiations with Israel will be resumed in the near future, following a meeting in Ramallah with King Abdullah II of Jordan.Abbas said he would resume negotiations if Israel "halts settlement activities and abides by international resolutions," adding that his demands were not preconditions but rather obligations based on agreements between the two sides, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.RELATED:'Hamas-Fatah unity would harm diplomatic process''Abbas says he'll plan elections with Hamas, but won't run'Jordan: Israeli security, 1967 borders key to peace PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said that Abbas told Abdullah the most pressing issue facing the PA is a complete reconciliation with Hamas.Malki made the comments during a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Nasser Judeh, following the meeting between the PA president and Jordanian King - the first official visit by Abdullah to the West Bank since Abbas assumed the presidency.According to Judeh, Abdullah came to the West Bank in order to support the creation of a Palestinian state along the Green Line with its capital in east Jerusalem and to emphasize the importance of the Palestinian issue within the Jordanian leadership.Abbas's meeting with Abdullah came shortly before the PA president and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal are expected to meet in Cairo in yet another attempt to implement the Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation accord that was announced last May.The summit will focus on the formation of a caretaker government that would prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections.
