Arab states publicly reject Netanyahyu’s overtures

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, during the former’s surprise visit to Amman on January 16, 2014

Times of Israel reports, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent request for a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II was turned down, the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Saturday. According to the London-based Arabic outlet, a follow-up request for a telephone conversation between the two leaders was also refused.”

“A Jordanian official cited in the report said the move was made “in light of the difficult relations between Jordan and Israel,” due to Israel’s upcoming elections and US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. The newspaper also reported that Jordan is not interested in attending the upcoming Camp David conference with Arab leaders reportedly being planned by the US, during which Trump would roll out his political plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace.”…

“On Wednesday it was reported that Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also rejected a request by Netanyahu to meet. The Arabic-language Saudi-owned Elaph newspaper said the prime minister recently asked Al Khalifa for the meeting through an envoy who he dispatched to Bahrain, saying he wished to inform Bahraini officials about “a dangerous security matter.” Al Khalifa was quoted as saying, “the time has not come yet.” (more)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, meets with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, second left, and Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt

Adam Rasgon writes in Times of Israel, “Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on Thursday, while meeting US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner in Cairo, Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. Kushner, one of the architects of the US administration’s plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and other senior American officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday, following meetings a day prior with a handful of regional leaders including Jordanian King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

“Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state… Sissi made the comment two days after US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman resisted backing Palestinian statehood in an interview with CNN, instead stating that the American administration supports Palestinian autonomy.” (more)