King meets with Israeli opposition leader

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday received Israeli opposition leader and head of the Labour Party, Isaac Herzog. 

They discussed the US-brokered efforts to achieve peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution, which would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace and security. 

The meeting came on the heels of previous talks held by King Abdullah with head of the Likud Party, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The unannounced visit by the Israeli premier on January 16
was aimed at discussing the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations which are currently at a critical point due to a stalemate.

This faltering in negotiations is mainly blamed on a promised Israeli prisoner release for the Palestinians, scheduled for the end of March, but did not take place.

In response to this development, US Secretary of State John Kerry flew to the Middle East on Monday.