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| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Jordan | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Jordan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a lightning visit to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah. | |
| The previously unannounced trip is the Israeli leader's second this week. He went to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office. | The previously unannounced trip is the Israeli leader's second this week. He went to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office. |
| Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May. | Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May. |
| The Jordanian ruler pressed the Israeli premier to endorse a Palestinian state which so far he has decline to do. | |
| A two-state solution based on independent Palestinian statehood is a goal strongly backed by the US and by Jordan and Egypt, Israel's only allies among Arab states. | A two-state solution based on independent Palestinian statehood is a goal strongly backed by the US and by Jordan and Egypt, Israel's only allies among Arab states. |
| The international community has agreed there is no alternative to the two-state solution King Abdullah of Jordan | |
| "The king demanded the Israeli government declare its commitment to the two-state solution, accept the Arab peace initiative and take practical steps to achieve progress," King Abdullah's office said after the meeting. | |
| "The international community has agreed there is no alternative ... and any other solution is unacceptable because it will not achieve a just peace, creating more conflict," the statement said. | |
| The king also pressed Mr Netanyahu to stop Israeli settlement building on Palestinian land and "seize the current historic opportunity to make peace with the Arabs". | |
| Benjamin Netanyahu flew straight back to Israel where he was is due to meet Pope Benedict XVI, who has been visiting Biblical locations in northern Israel. | |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says the frantic activity is because Israel fears being diplomatically isolated ahead of his Washington trip. | |
| On Monday, King Abdullah warned that failure to reach an agreement for peace in the Middle East would result in a new conflagration within 12-18 months. | On Monday, King Abdullah warned that failure to reach an agreement for peace in the Middle East would result in a new conflagration within 12-18 months. |
| In comments to a UK newspaper, he said the US was finalising a comprehensive solution to Israel's conflicts with the Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese that would involve all 57 Arab and Muslim states. | In comments to a UK newspaper, he said the US was finalising a comprehensive solution to Israel's conflicts with the Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese that would involve all 57 Arab and Muslim states. |
| Our correspondent says everything appears to be leading towards a visit by President Obama to Cairo next month, during which he is expected to announce his support for the Jordanian plan in some form. | Our correspondent says everything appears to be leading towards a visit by President Obama to Cairo next month, during which he is expected to announce his support for the Jordanian plan in some form. |
| King Abdullah - a staunch ally of the United States - has ruled Jordan since 1999, with extensive powers to appoints governments, approve legislation and to dissolve parliament. |