Jordan king meets Israeli defense minister in Amman

By Abdelraouf Arna'out and Laith Al-Jnaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) – Jordan’s King Abdullah II met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in Amman on Tuesday to discuss Palestinian developments, according to the Royal Court.

The Jordanian monarch underlined the importance of removing restrictions to freedom of worship during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, due to start early April, the Royal Court said in a statement.

King Abdullah also called for avoiding any “provocations” that could lead to escalation in the Palestinian territories, it added.

According to the statement, the king also stressed Jordan’s support to the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Gantz, for his part, informed King Abdullah II of "the steps that Israel intends to take ahead of the month of Ramadan in order to preserve freedom of worship in Jerusalem and the West Bank," his office said in a statement.

On Monday, the Jordanian king visited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah for talks on developments in the Palestinian territories.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar