Lapid meets Jordanian king, will cooperate to 'calm tensions' and discuss security concerns in Jerusalem ahead of Ramadan and Passover
The two also discussed regional and international policy issues, including the progress of normalization and peace
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made an unannounced visit to Amman on Thursday to meet with King Abdullah II. It was their second meeting since the new Israeli government was sworn in.
Lapid met the king at his palace, where according to the ministry, the two discussed ways to defuse tensions around Jerusalem ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which may erupt in riots and clashes especially on the Temple Mount.
Following the meeting, Lapid tweeted, “Today, I met in Amman with the King of Jordan, His Majesty @KingAbdullahII. We agreed that we must work together to calm tensions and promote understanding, particularly in the lead-up to the month of Ramadan and Passover.”
“Our special relationship with the Kingdom of Jordan ensures a better future for our children, and the peace between us isn’t just good neighborliness, but is also our moral responsibility to both our peoples,” Lapid continued.
The foreign minister’s office said the two also discussed regional and international policy issues, the progress of normalization and peace, as well as joint projects pertaining to renewable energy and trade.
The meeting was also attended by Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, with whom Lapid also met separately.
Lapid congratulated the king on strengthening relations and cooperation and discussed the strategic importance of Jordan-Israel relations.
Last October, Israel and Jordan signed the largest deal between the two countries in 27 years since the peace accords. Under the water-for-solar-energy deal, a massive solar plant will be built in the Jordanian desert that will generate power for Israel, in exchange for a desalination plant in Israel that will provide Jordan with water. The solar plant will be built by a UAE company.
Jordanian news agency Petra said that during the meeting with Lapid, the king reaffirmed the need to “step up efforts to achieve just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Tal Heinrich is a senior correspondent for both ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS. She is currently based in New York City. Tal also provides reports and analysis for Israeli Hebrew media Channel 14 News.
