Safadi, Ashkenazi Discuss Resuming Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Jordanian FM Ayman Safadi, Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry, and French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo. (AP)
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Jordanian FM Ayman Safadi, Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry, and French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo. (AP)
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Safadi, Ashkenazi Discuss Resuming Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Jordanian FM Ayman Safadi, Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry, and French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo. (AP)
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Jordanian FM Ayman Safadi, Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry, and French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo. (AP)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi met in Jordan for the second time in two weeks after a series of telephone calls between them last month, according to political sources in Tel Aviv.

The sources described the talks as “positive,” adding that they were followed by meetings between Israeli and Jordanian teams to discuss the practical steps on the various issues addressed by the two ministers.

A Palestinian source in Ramallah said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is aware of these meetings, which are in line with recent efforts by the quartet of Egypt, Jordan, Germany and France to move forward with Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on a political settlement based on the two-state solution.

These efforts have intensified in recent weeks, days before Joe Biden is sworn in as American president on January 20.

The source stressed that the efforts culminated on Monday with the quartet meeting of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, France, and Germany, a forum known as the Munich Group, in Cairo.

The meeting between Ashkenazi and Safadi is part of these efforts, according to the source, adding that Amman condemned the Israeli government's practices “to impose a de-facto solution that sabotages the two-state solution, such as going ahead with settlement building.”

Since assuming his position as foreign minister, Ashkenazi has been working to improve the strained relations with Jordan, said a close associate to him in Tel Aviv. Ashkenazi is aware that there is a common supreme strategic interest for both Jordan and Israel.

Israel Hayom reported that the latest meeting between Ashkenazi and Safadi discussed regional strategic issues, strengthening economic cooperation and reducing tensions in bilateral ties.

It suggested that the talks between the two ministers focused on civil and economic ties and avoided contentious issues, noting that the meeting also included several ministers.

Ashkenazi had been invited to participate in the meeting in Cairo, but he apologized due to the two-week lockdown imposed by the government, which suggests that his meeting with Safadi took place at the end of December.

The newspaper said that despite the efforts of the Israeli FM, Safadi is pursuing a decisive stance with Israel, demanding that it put an end to provocations at al-Aqsa Mosque and fulfill its legal obligations as an occupying power, according to a statement issued by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.



Syria's Sharaa Heads to UAE for Second Visit to a Gulf Country as Leader

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
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Syria's Sharaa Heads to UAE for Second Visit to a Gulf Country as Leader

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attends an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa will travel to the United Arab Emirates for his second visit to a Gulf state as president on Sunday, Syria's official news agency reported.

Sharaa will be accompanied by foreign minister Assad al-Shibani, who visited the UAE earlier this year.

They are expected to discuss issues of mutual interest, the SANA state news agency reported.

Sharaa visited Saudi Arabia in February on his first foreign trip since assuming the presidency in January.

According to Reuters, the West is watching Syria's leaders closely to ensure they create an inclusive government with effective institutions, maintain order in a country fractured by civil war and prevent a resurgence of ISIS or al Qaeda.

Syria is in desperate need of sanctions relief to revive its economy after 14 years of war, during which the United States and Europe imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Assad's regime.