Palestinian president posts Saudi king on meetings with Rice

President Mubarak discusses with Jordanian monarch, Palestinian president Mideast peace process, Arab summit outcome

Israel continues settlement on disputed land

Saudi Mufti denies inviting Israeli rabbis

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas re-emphasized his commitment to the peace process with Israel and asked that Israel do the same.

"(We) hope that the American referee or judge will make sure that Israel will meet its obligation," Abbas said during a joint news appearance with U.S. Secretary Condoleezza Rice at Amman, Jordan. He singled out stopping settlement activities in Jerusalem and the release of detainees to "fix a comprehensive reciprocal or mutual truce," a U.S. State Department statement said.

Rice said she had an opportunity to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace road map with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other negotiators.

"I know that your teams have a lot of hard work ahead of them," she said, "but I have to say that I find very impressive the work that is being done and the seriousness of the process, and I think it's all moving in the right direction."

Abbas also expressed appreciation for efforts to remove what he called the siege on Gaza, especially by Egypt.

Abbas is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss the peace process and Israel's commitment to the US-backed Road Map plan, Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said.

According to Erekat, president Abbas plans to press Olmert on the fact that Israel has not fulfilled its obligations under the road map. Erekat noted that Israel has not halted settlement construction in the West Bank, a requirement under the first step of the multi-stage plan.

The "performance-based" Road Map calls for Israel to halt all settlement activity in occupied Palestinian areas. In exchange, the Palestinian Authority is obligated to crack down on armed Palestinian groups.

Abbas and Olmert agreed to formally resume negotiations at the Annapolis international conference last November.

A report released last week by the Israeli group Peace Now showed that Israeli settlement construction has continued since the conference, and has actually accelerated in occupied East Jerusalem.

Erekat added that Abbas would also raise the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the possibility of reopening the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, as well as lifting Israel's crippling siege of the Strip.

Olmert said last month that he does not envisage the possibility of anything more than an outline agreement by 2009, despite the US target of a peace deal by the end of 2008, and that settlement expansion on Palestinian land would continue.

Abbas has in turn accused Israel of splitting the Palestinian territories into isolated cantons as a means to prevent the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian National Authority, and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments of the Palestinian issue and the peace process in the region as well as the international efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that ensures for the Palestinian people their right in establishing their independent state on their national soil with al-Quds as its capital.

The audience was attended by Minister of State For Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani and Palestinian ambassador to the kingdom Jamal Alshoobaki.

Abbas and the accompanying delegation had arrived in Riyadh on a visit to the kingdom.

At the airport, he was received by Minister of State For Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani and other officials.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a message from President Hu Jintao of the Peoples Republic of China.

The message was delivered to the monarch by the Chinese envoy for the Middle East issue Soon Began during an audience with the monarch at his palace in Riyadh tonight.

During the audience, the Chinese envoy conveyed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the greetings of President of China. In turn, the monarch sent his greetings to the President.

The meeting was attended by China's Ambassador to the Kingdom Yang Hong Len.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received Chief of Democratic Christian Conservatives Group at the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Dr. Karl Lamers and accompanying delegation currently on a visit to the Kingdom.

At the outset of the meeting, the monarch welcomed the guests, wishing them a good stay in the Kingdom and success for their mission. On his part, the Chief of the Group thanked the King for warm welcome and generous hospitality.

Then a number of issues of mutual concern were reviewed.

The meeting was attended by Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, and Germany's Charge d'Affaires to the Kingdom Dr. D. Walter.

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II held a bilateral session of talks at the President HQ upon the arrival of the Jordanian monarch.

Egyptian-Jordanian talks dwelt on the Arab developments, especially as regards the Palestinian cause.

For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas joined the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders and they discussed means of pushing forward Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.

The three leaders will complete their talks over a luncheon hosted by President Mubarak in honor of his guests.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential palace in Heliopolis.

The two sides will discuss regional developments and efforts to push Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations forward as well means to close Palestinian ranks.

The Palestinian president will post President Mubarak on the outcome of his meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Jordan and the outcome of the Arab summit recently held in Damascus.

Attending the meeting were Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abu-Redina and Palestinian Ambassador in Cairo Munzer al-Digani.

Abbas arrived in Cairo coming from Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit to Egypt.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas conferred with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on the outcome of the Damascus summit and his talks in Saudi Arabia.

Abbas told a press conference following his meeting with the Egyptian leader he informed him on the outcome of his talks in Amman with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future of peace negotiations with Israel.

Abbas said the Palestinian side is in the negotiations stage that covers final status issues that deal with Jerusalem, settlements, borders, refugees, water and security.

He referred to meetings with Israeli officials and a visit to the United States April 23 and to Russia as well. "Current activities focus on negotiations," he added.

Talks now cover the date of the follow-up of Annapolis meeting to be held in Russia in June which is aimed at supporting the outcome of direct talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, he said, adding that holding the meeting depends on what could be accomplished during the negotiations.

Asked about progress between Fatah and Hamas following the Yemeni initiative and Egypt's efforts in this respect, Abbas said the initiative was not different from the principles we have been calling for.

He added that he was sorry for the differences among the parties concerned over the initiative. "We should now reconsider ways to force Hamas to promptly implement the initiative," he said.

Abbas praised Egypt's efforts to reach cooling off in the Gaza Strip, halt the launching of rockets and stop Israel's hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about the progress reached in the final status negotiations with Israel, Abbas said the two sides are only exchanging views and holding in-depth dialogue.

As for the possibility of establishing an independent state before the end of the year, Abbas said there is serious talk about the matter which can be considered a commitment by all parties concerned including the Israeli and American sides that 2008 should witness an agreement with the Israel final status issues. "We are doing our best to reach that," he added.

"The summit's meetings come as a follow-up of the Damascus Arab Summit, which wrapped up work there March 30," presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad said in statements, noting that Mubarak had met with Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika on that very day.

Indeed, joint Arab action has been tackled in the Syria-hosted summit, but the issue is still on the table, Awwad acknowledged.

The solution to the current Arab rift lies, according to Awwad, in the hands of parties holding keys to pending issues, like the situation in Lebanon.

Good will initiatives are needed to heal Arab-Arab relations, the spokesman stressed.

Asked about the Israeli build-up near the Syrian and Lebanese borders, Awwad said that Egypt rejects any Israeli threat to use force, pointing out that the Middle East is not in need of using force either against Syria or Lebanon or Gaza but is in need of doubling peace efforts.

He said that peace, not force, is the best means to reach solutions to conflicts.

Quizzed if Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika had carried a message during his visit to Cairo on Arab-Arab reconciliation, the presidential spokesman said all parties are preoccupied now with Arab-Arab relations and means to iron out inter-Arab differences.

Asked if the coming period will witness visits by Lebanese figures to Egypt, Awwad said he does not rule out a visit to Cairo soon by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to meet president Mubarak.

Asked about statements by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in which he said the settlements are an inseparable part of Israel's security strategy, Awwad said the direct answer to Barak's statements is : "All settlements are illegal".

He pointed out that the United States used the veto twice "to kill" two Arab draft resolutions in 1997 to condemn Israeli settlement plans in Al-Quds (East Jerusalem).

The presidential spokesman said that Egypt hopes that the US live up to its pledges to secure the establishment of a Palestinian state late this year, "but there is a big question mark on means to achieve that and reach a peace agreement".

How can peace agreements be implemented at a time when the Israeli settlement activities are continuing? he asked.

Asked about statements by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair that the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement of Hamas should not be isolated, Awwad said that Egypt hosted in 2005 three rounds of dialogue between Hamas and Fatah.

He said Egypt has been exerting efforts to reach a truce between the Palestinians and Israelis to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank and open crossings.

He pointed out that some countries, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen, are trying to achieve reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.

Quizzed about the coming Moscow meeting, which is due to follow up developments after the Annapolis peace conference, Awwad said though the Annapolis conference resulted in launching the final-status negotiations, it is being stymied by a stalemate in those negotiations. Asked if Sanaa Declaration will have negative consequences for Egypt's efforts for mediation with the Palestinian factions, especially Fatah and Hamas, Awwad said Egypt welcomes Sanaa Declaration and hopes it will be a good start for achieving an inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

Quizzed if the recent summits held by president Mubarak during the past hours with Arab leaders are a prelude for holding an expanded Arab summit including Saudi Arabia, Awwad said all options are on the table regarding promoting joint Arab action.

On an Israeli call that Egypt and Jordan take joint responsibility for administering Gaza and the West Bank, Awwad said all Israeli statements are test balloons aiming at wriggling out of peace responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said that the three-way summit that grouped Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, dwelt on the Arab peace initiative.

In a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Salaheddin al-Bashir, Abul-Gheit said the Arab summit in Damascus, the Arab initiative to end Lebanon's political deadlock and the situation in Iraq ranked high on the agenda of the summit.

The three Arab leaders shared views on the issues on the agenda of the summit, he said.

For his part, al-Bashir said the three leaders maintain coordination for giving a push to the Middle East peace process.

He welcomed the Israeli decision to remove some security barriers in the Palestinian territories to ease the suffering of the Palestinians. He also called for more steps to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians. Responding to a question on new proposals to solve the Lebanese political crisis, Abul-Gheit said the Arab initiative in this regard is the only proposal on the table.

The initiative was approved in the Arab summit in Damascus, he added. On holding mini-summits grouping Arab leaders, Abul-Gheit said such summits were proposed by president Mubarak during the Riyadh summit.

Asked about fears that Palestinian president Abbas would be placed under pressure during his coming visit to Washington, Abul-Gheit said Egypt feels no worry over Abbas' Washington visit.

The US efforts to resume peace talks continue and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will tour the Middle East region in May.

Abul-Gheit said he held a prolonged conversation with Rice on preparations for US President George Bush's visit to the Middle East region in May.

Efforts are being exerted on the Palestinian-Israeli track to reach understanding on establishing a Palestinian state before the end of 2008, he said.

On President Mubarak and King Abdullah II's absence from the Arab summit in Damascus and the impact on relations with the summit chairmanship, Abul-Gheit said the Arab summit chairmanship has its defined responsibilities.

Once the chairmanship moves to other parties, they will positively respond, he said, noting the chairmanship is the party to move toward the members of the Arab League.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Salah al-Bashir underlined the importance of constant coordination between the Egyptian and Jordanian leaderships in the coming stage in light of challenges facing the Arab nation and the entire Middle East.

Al-Bashir praised cooperation between Egypt and Jordan in the different fields.

Cooperation between Egypt and Jordan is increasing especially in economic, trade and tourism domains, Bashir said, adding that relations between the two countries are ancient and deeply-rooted.

He referred to the Egyptian-Jordan summit meeting held in Cairo a few days ago, saying it was important and reflected identical views regarding all issues of mutual concern.

As for the Middle East peace process, the Jordanian foreign minister said it is necessary to find a solution to the Palestinian cause based on the Arab peace initiative and the understandings reached in Annapolis.

Jordan constantly supports the Palestinian National Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas and is keen on easing the suffering of the Palestinian people, he said.

He called for the need to hold dialogue between Asia and Middle East nations within the framework of the dialogue among religions and cultures in order to reach economic development and a prosperous future to both sides.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a message from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nuhayyan on the outcome of the Arab summit recently held in Damascus.

UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nuhayyan handed over the message to President Mubarak during a meeting with him here, said Presidential Spokesman Suleiman Awwad.

Talks between Mubarak and his guest took up Egypt's efforts to reach a truce between the Palestinians and Israelis as well as Egyptian contacts with Hamas to iron out inter-Palestinian difference and close up Palestinian ranks.

The meeting also dealt with the current situation in Lebanon, Iraq and the Gulf region and Iran's nuclear file, the spokesman said.

A senior Israeli official said that the visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is interested in a draft declaration on a Middle East agreement before U.S. President George W. Bush's visit in May.

Local daily Ha'aretz quoted the official as saying that "She (Rice) wants something before he (President Bush) comes in May."

He explained that Rice was interested in a draft declaration or memorandum of understanding as an interim "achievement" when Bush returns to the region in May to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding.

U.S. officials said Rice's trip was designed to gauge how much progress could be made in the peace talks and on practical steps to help the Palestinians before Bush's visit in May to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding.

A senior Israeli official said Rice was testing the water to see if a draft declaration or a memorandum of understanding could be presented as an interim "achievement" when Bush returns. Rice declined to comment on this, saying her focus was on achieving a peace agreement by the end of the year.

Olmert's government could unravel if talks focus on the thorny issue of Jerusalem, and Abbas's authority extends only to the occupied West Bank. Islamist Hamas, officially committed to Israel's destruction, seized the Gaza Strip in June.

Meanwhile, a senior Western diplomat said the proposed document would present "the final status issues without the details."

However, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who attended Rice's meeting in Amman with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on, said the secretary of state did not propose crafting any interim documents for Bush's return.

However, Rice does look like a broker because of her intense contacts with both Israeli and Palestinian officials during her visit to the region, the second time in a month.

Rice started a shuttle visit to the Middle East in a bid to discuss practical ways to improve the lives of the Palestinians.

Rice held a trilateral meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, after which the secretary of state promised to monitor Israel's activities in the West Bank to verify if it was implementing its promises to ease access and movement for the Palestinians.

During the trilateral meeting, Israel and the Palestinians agreed on a series of concrete steps aimed at paving the way for a final peace agreement later this year, beginning with an Israeli pledge to remove some 50 roadblocks in the West Bank, according to U.S. officials traveling with Rice.

Rice met in Jerusalem with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, both of whom are heading the recently revived final status peace talks.

Rice also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and traveled to Amman to meet for a second time with President Abbas, as part of a three-day mission to the region aimed at advancing the peace process which is revived in last November Annapolis summit but faltering amid new round of military escalation in the region.

Earlier this month, Rice said that neither Israel nor the Palestinians had done "nearly enough" to carry out the Road Map peace plan under which Israel is required to halt West Bank settlement activity and uproot settler outposts and the Palestinians to rein in militants.

Olmert said that building in Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and in the major settlement blocs will continue as they remain under Israeli sovereignty in any agreement reached with the Palestinians. Olmert made the remarks after a meeting with Rice.

Israel announced plans for 1,400 new homes on land the Palestinians claim for a future state - just hours after Rice ended a peacekeeping mission to the region.

Jerusalem's city hall announced it would build 600 new apartments in Pisgat Zeev, a Jewish colony in the eastern sector of the city. Soon after, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to build 800 additional homes in one of Israel's largest West Bank settlements, Betar Illit.

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski said he was confident that "following the prime minister's statement that construction in Jerusalem neighborhoods will continue, the government will not impose any delay on this plan."

Israel has approved the construction of almost 1,000 homes in Jewish settlements since renewing peace talks at a U.S.-hosted summit in November, Israeli "Peace Now" watchdog group reported.

The international road map to Middle East peace calls on Israel to freeze settlement construction and for the Palestinians to improve security in the territories.

"Not a single project was frozen," the Peace Now said in its report.

Rice clinched meager results during her latest shuttle diplomacy in the area; she secured a meeting between Abbas and Olmert to resume their two-weekly encounters after Abbas suspended the bilateral meetings in protest against Israel’s expansion of settlements policy. She also secured an Israeli promise to remove (50) roadblocks erected by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the West Bank to restrict the free movement of Palestinians, but failed to secure a similar promise to remove some of the more than (500) IOF military checkpoints.

Rice immediately responded to Olmert’s announcement: "Settlement activity should stop, and expansion should stop; it is not consistent with road-map obligations," she said, referring to the 2003 peace plan, which was endorsed by the Annapolis peace conference on November 27 last year.

"I've raised this issue, that Israel has a road map obligation here that is essential," Rice said.

"What's very important is that the reason that obligation is there is that there cannot be anything that prejudges a final status agreement. And that's why people concern themselves with this particular obligation. And yes, we've talked about it."

Saeb Erekat said that Abbas provided Rice with documented information indicating that Israel is now busy building more than 5,500 housing units it approved since the Annapolis conference, to expand the illegal Jewish colonial settlements, particularly in occupied Jerusalem; since then also Israel killed more than 350 Palestinians and detained hundreds of them, Abbas told Rice.

Rice held three-way talks with top Palestinian negotiator Ahmad Qurei and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Earlier she also held a trilateral meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Rice shuttled from Israel to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II and Abbas, after kicking off her mission with a working dinner with Olmert.

Rice clinched an Israeli promise to remove 50 of the army roadblocks in the West Bank. That represents a small fraction of the total number of roadblocks and checkpoints in the territory, which as of February stood at 580, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The total number of checkpoints and roadblocks has expanded in recent years from 472 in 2005 to a monthly average of 552 in 2007, according to the agency.

"We accept these measures as acts to improve the people's lives and to strengthen the ability to work and build our state," Salam Fayyad said after a three-way meeting with Rice and Barak.

United Nation's Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on Israel to halt plans to expand its settlements on Palestinian territory. A White House press spokesperson also criticized the plans as "not helpful" to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. Israeli authorities said they planned to build a new Jewish settlement in the annexed eastern part of Jerusalem. This would violate Israel's obligations under the so called "road map" peace plan.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government says it has ordered its military to reduce activities in the Gaza Strip. The order comes after a sharp drop in rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian territory. The lull follows a violent period in which at least 120 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military operations. Four Israelis were killed by Palestinian rockets or in combat operations last week.

External relations chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner has announced the EU will "top up" financial assistance to Ukraine, Moldova, Israel and Morocco.

Speaking to journalists, the Austrian commissioner said that the EU was "working on a targeted deepening of relations with some of our partners.

"Based on their progress and ambition we want to go significantly further with these four countries."

Ferrero-Waldner said the sums, which have yet to be decided, will not be huge, but "not just symbolic", either.

They form part of the budget of the European neighborhood policy (ENP), the EU’s framework foreign policy to cover its eastern and southern neighbors.

She said the EU "will continue intensive work with the other countries" that were not singled out for extra funding.

Ferrero-Waldner made the comments at the launch of a policy paper on how the ENP had functioned in its 16 regions in 2007. As part of the launch, the commission released progress reports on 12 countries that currently have action plans under the ENP.

The results, said the commissioner, are positive, but there is still much left to do.

"Progress on the ground over the last year has been remarkable in many countries and our relations with our neighbors to the south and east are becoming more intense and fruitful by the day.

"But much also remains to be done. Our partners need to and can do more on the basis of these action plans."

Ukraine, which has seen various political and energy crises over the last few months, continued to make progress in most areas, said the report, but slowed down its pace of reform due to political instability.

The commission has launched a new enhanced agreement with the country and the two sides are in talks about a free trade area.

The EU is also discussing a new agreement with Moldova, which should go beyond the partnership and cooperation agreement that is part of the ENP.

Also under discussion are an "advanced status" for Morocco, which could include the freer movement of people, and a "special status" for Israel, which would mean increased political dialogue and further involvement of the country in the EU’s economy and market.

Other areas with action plans under the ENP include Jordan, Tunisia, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory.

No action plans have yet been agreed with Algeria, Libya, Syria and Belarus, but the commission says that "advances in taking relations forward" have been made.

"The European neighborhood policy brings results," concluded Ferrero-Waldner. "For our partners and for our citizens in increased prosperity and stability.

"We want to create a ring of friends around us."

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti denied having invited Israeli rabbis to take part in the inter-religious reconciliation conference to be held in Riyadh upon initiative of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, daily Gulf News reported.

"The news has no grounds neither does it contain a speck of truth," Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Shaikh, the highest religious figure in the oil-rich kingdom, replied referring to information that appeared in the Israeli media according to which the invitation was extended during a telephone conversation with representatives of the Israeli-Arab Friendship Society.

Last week, King Abdullah highlighted the urgency of organizing an inter-religious meeting to favor the dialogue among the three monotheistic religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - in order to face together the traps of modern times such as "the break-up of family values and the growth of atheism". However, between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as it also applies to the other Gulf countries except for Bahrain, no formal relations exist.

Yet, Riyadh is the promoter of the Arab Peace Initiative of Beirut (2002), in which full normalization of ties with the Jewish state is offered in return for its pulling out of the Palestinian territories beyond the 1967 borders.