Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., December 12, 2007 Tevet 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:50 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 20:57 09/12/2007 Jordanian king urges pan-Arab stance on Israeli 'occupation' By News Agencies Tags: Walid Moallem, diplomacy  Jordan's King Abdullah urged a Pan-Arab stance to end Israel's occupation of Arab lands. Abdullah held talks Sunday with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem on the latter's rare visit to Amman. The pair discussed the outcome of last month's Annapolis Middle East conference. Moallem's visit came in the wake of last month's surprise visit by King Abdullah to Damascus that seemed to have opened a new chapter in bilateral coordination on the Arab-Israeli peace process. Advertisement His meeting with King Abdullah came 48 hours before the monarch was due to visit Turkey, France and Strasbourg on Tuesday and Wednesday to muster support for the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians that were launched at Annapolis on core issues: Jerusalem, settlements, frontiers and refugees. Moallem's one-day visit signals improved relations between the two Arab neighbors. He met behind closed doors with Jordanian Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi and was also scheduled to meet separately with his Jordanian counterpart, Salaheddine al-Bashir. Little details emerged from Moallem's talks, which follow a November 18 surprise visit by Abdullah to Damascus, where he met with Syrian President Bashar Assad. At the time, Jordanian government officials said Abdullah urged Assad to send a representative to the U.S.-sponsored international peace conference, which was held in Annapolis, Maryland on November 27. Moallem declined to say why he was in Jordan. He only gave a vague arrival statement to reporters, saying that Jordan and Syria are "two brotherly neighbors, our people have unique ties and these visits persist because they enrich bilateral relations and tackle existing regional issues." Relations between Jordan and Syria have been frosty for years, particularly in the last few months over a host of political issues. Tensions rose last year in the wake of the summer 2006 war between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, when Assad called some Arab leaders half men for not supporting Hezbollah during the war. The last time Abdullah visited Syria was in February 2004, while Assad last visited his southern neighbor a year later. Under a deal Abdullah concluded with Assad last month, Syria released 18 Jordanian prisoners and sent them home. Later this month, top Jordanian and Syrian officials are expected to convene a meeting of a committee, which oversees cooperation between the two countries - in yet another sign of improved ties. The exact date of the meeting of the Syrian-Jordanian Higher Committee has not yet been fixed. But it is expected that several trade and water agreements would be concluded then. Bookmark to del.icio.us Tehran threat Olmert delivered a rebuttal to the assessment that Iran halted its nukes program. More than war The UN has adopted an Israeli-proposed resolution in the field of economic development.   1.   "Two brotherly nieghbours?" Yeah, right! 16:05  |  Conroy 09/12/07   2.   Why Didn`t Jordon Found Palestinian State When it Ruled West Bank 21:34  |  Straight Talk 09/12/07   3.   Jordan`s King Abdullah shows why there can`t be peace 21:35  |  Shepherd 09/12/07   4.   Jordanian king urges pan-Arab stance on Israeli `occupation` 22:09  |  mikeT 09/12/07   5.   Shephard 22:21  |  mikeT 09/12/07   6.   #1 Contoy: more brotherly than Israel 22:33  |  Jordanian 09/12/07   7.   the mouse that roars abdullah the unready 23:01  |  v ictor hardman 09/12/07   8.   Straight Talk: Well Said ! 23:13  |  David James Vickery 09/12/07   9.   Jordanian, did you find out who is to blame? 23:15  |  Figaro 09/12/07   10.   Dear King Abdullah of Jordan 23:19  |  David James Vickery 09/12/07   11.   ARAB STANCE CREATED THE OCCUPATION 23:45  |  Brant 09/12/07   12.   Who is the occupier? 23:59  |  Joseph 09/12/07   13.   #6 Your brothers certainly aren`t the Pals 00:12  |  Steve 10/12/07   14.   10 - Since you`re now writing to heads of state... 00:14  |  Steve 10/12/07   15.   Frosty, my foot... 00:40  |  Webster 10/12/07   16.   Livni called for such Arab cooperation in support of Annapolis 00:46  |  Ivar 10/12/07   17.   IVAR: MUTUALLY AGREED LAND SWAPS 00:59  |  Brant 10/12/07   18.   Hey Brant, congratulations.... 01:22  |  David James Vickery 10/12/07   19.   King Abdullah, I am so disappointed here, I`ve been watching to 02:24  |  Virginia 10/12/07   20.   TO THE LAST PALESTINIAN 15:32  |  Brant 10/12/07   21.   #8 Say David Vickery 22:36  |  ballistic 10/12/07   22.   Say Ballistic?? 01:21  |  Brant 11/12/07

Today Online 15 Qassams hit Negev hours after PM vows to remove threat Responses: 42 Hamas urges PA to boycott peace talks in wake of IDF Gaza raid Responses: 27 Official: Gov't okayed hundreds more homes in West Bank Responses: 31 ADL hails NYPD for arrests in anti-Semitic subway attack Responses: 39 Amira Hass: Hamas is trashing Palestinian achievements Responses: 4 Haaretz.com TV: Routine IDF search leaves Palestinian home in shambles Responses: 3 Rosner's Domain American Jews are losing interest in Israel Guest: redivision of Jerusalem will lead to terrible bloodshed A more traditional Reform movement (WTR) Republicans reacted much better to the NIE on Iran More Headlines 10:33 At least 15 Qassams hit Negev; five lightly hurt 12:25 Blast kills senior Lebanese officer due to take over as army commander 12:22 Tony Blair to MKs: Israel must proceed in talks despite doubts 11:27 Civil Administration chief: Hundreds of units approved in disputed areas 09:18 Survey: U.S. Jews are losing interest in Israel 08:59 Hamas urges PA to boycott Israel talks in wake of IDF Gaza raid 12:39 ADL commends N.Y. police for arrests in anti-Semitic subway attack 11:08 Rosh Ha'ayin man indicted for killing his brother last month 09:10 Negotiations to end teachers' strike break down at 11th hour Previous Editions Select Day 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov

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