RAMALLAH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas secretly met Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Jordan Thursday, a Palestinian source revealed Monday.
King Abdullah II of Jordan also participated in the meeting which was held in Amman, the source added.
The meeting focused on efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and their plans to seek a state recognition through the United Nations.
Israel and the United States, the sponsor of the peace process that has stalled since 2010, oppose the Palestinian approach to the UN as a unilateral step. This time, the Palestinians seek an upgrade to a non-member state in the international organization.
Meanwhile, the source said that Barak, also the head of the Labor Party, briefed Abbas on his initiative that envisages a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank. Abbas reiterated his position against any plan envisioning a Palestine state with provisional boundaries.
Since the negotiations broke down over a dispute on Jewish settlement activities, Abbas did not meet with any member of the Israeli government.
Front Page Features