WASHINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) — U.S. President George W. Bush had private talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on reviving the Middle East peace process at the White House Tuesday evening, the White House said.
White House officials declined to comment on the Bush-Abdullah II talks, which were accompanied by “a private dinner”. But they were reportedly discussing efforts to push for peace between Israel and the Palestinians and bilateral issues.
The U.S.-Jordan summit came one week after Bush announced a new Middle East peace initiative, calling for Arab countries to reach out to Israel, support beleaguered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and attend a new international conference this fall on how to achieve a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
King Abdullah II is a close U.S. ally. Jordan and Egypt are the only Arab countries that have made peace with Israel.