Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni held discussions with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelelah al-Khatib on Sunday on ways to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Khatib and Livni tackled "means of achieving progress in the peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, particularly in the wake of this afternoon's meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert," a Jordanian statement said.

Livni's spokesman Ido Aharoni told The Associated Press that Livni met with for 90-minutes behind closed doors at an isolated Dead Sea resort before returning to Israel. He said he could not give details on the talks.

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"I can only say that the discussions revolved around the regional picture," he said, without elaborating.

Journalists were denied access to the meetings, and Jordanian government officials could not be reached for comment.

"Khatib briefed Livni on efforts being exerted by King Abdullah II with a view to ensuring the return of the Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table," the Jordanian statement added.

Khatib also updated his Livni on measures being taken by the Arab world to "reinvigorate the Arab peace initiative that was readopted by the Arab summit conference in Riyadh" in late March.

"The Arab peace plan represents the collective Arab will for building up peace and putting an end to a long period of confrontation and sufferings," Khatib was quoted as telling Livni.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet Sunday, prior to his meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, that he was "willing to hold a dialog with any grouping of Arab states about their ideas," an apparent nod toward the Saudi initiative.