Leaders of Jordan and Syria on Friday cited Israels evacuation of all Arab territories it occupied in the 1967 Six-Day war and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as prerequisites for lasting peace in the region. The call came in a joint communiqu issued at the end of talks between Jordans King Abdullah II and Syrian President Bashar al- Assad who paid a whirlwind visit to the Jordanian capital.
While discussing latest efforts to push forward the peace negotiations between Israel and both Palestinians and Syria, the two Arab leaders said that "durable and comprehensive peace should be based on the relevant UN resolutions, the Arab peace initiative, Israels pullout from all occupied Arab territories and the setting up of an independent Palestinian state".
Abdullah and Assad urged the feuding Palestinian factions - Hamas and Fatah - to reach "consensus" as an inevitable step dictated by Palestinian interests and the need "to mobilise all potentials for regaining the legitimate Palestinian rights, particularly statehood".
The Palestinian reconciliation talks, brokered by Egypt, were adjourned in Cairo on Wednesday without tangible results. Both sides said they planned to resume the talks in the Egyptian capital shortly after going back to their leaders. The Jordanian and Syrian heads of state also stressed the need for "boosting Arab solidarity on effective bases with a view to enhancing the Arab nations ability to face challenges".
The communique alluded to the deep split in Arab ranks that developed during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in January which then triggered what was called as the "war of summits" between hard-line and moderate Arab states. Both Assad and Abdullah were involved over the past two weeks in good offices aimed at paving the ground for the regular Arab summit due to be held in Doha at the end of March.