JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not declare his commitment to a two-state solution in a meeting with Jordan’s king.
King Abdullah II at Thursday’s meeting in Aqaba pushed Netanyahu to come out for a two-state solution, according to reports.
The meeting comes ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the White House next week. Abdullah was the first regional leader to meet with Obama last month.
Netanhayu promised he would pursue peace negotiations with the Palestinians but stopped short of consenting to the request on two states.
"I am aware of the need to promote negotiations with the Palestinians and intend to hold [separate] negotiations on diplomatic, security and economic [issues] negotiations, not one of which will come at the expense of the other," Netanyahu told his host, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Later he said, "I believe in changing reality on the ground."
The Prime Minister’s Office announced that the two leaders had agreed to be in contact after Netanyahu’s meeting with Obama, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Netanyahu returned to Israel immediately afterward for a meeting in Nazareth with Pope Benedict XVI.
President Shimon Peres is scheduled to meet Abdullah in Jordan on Sunday to discuss a joint approach to the Middle East peace process.
