Jordan’s King to visit PA in Ramallah

Jordan’s King Abdullah is to visit Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas next week for the first time in five years.

Whilst the meeting is only scheduled to last a few hours, the visit is reportedly meant as a show of support from Jordan to the PA, after Abbas suspended all contacts with Israel following controversial security measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Ynet News.

King Abdullah recently announced a $1.4 million grant to support the Waqf mosque authority, which is managed by Jordan.

Read: Hamas delegation meets with Abbas in Ramallah

Jordanian officials will not make a stop in Israel, a reflection of the strained ties between Tel Aviv and Amman following a shootout at the Israeli embassy that left two Jordanians dead.

On Wednesday, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s demand that the shooter, who received a hero’s welcome by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The call comes after it was revealed that Jordanian authorities assisted in the return of the soldier to Israel at the request of the US.