Amman- MWC-News-Special Report From our Middle East Editor SALEH ZAITOON*

Results of Palestinian Election and the situation in  Iraq will discuss today in White House

Jordan's King Abdullah II will start on Wednesday  a new visit to Washington to meet President George W. Bush for talks on regional developments, the peace process as well as bilateral relations and means to develop them in all fields.

King's talks in the US will also focus on rallying support to the stand of PNA as well as encouraging the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiation table and resume the peace process in line with the roadmap with a view to achieve the two- state solution.   King Abdullah will also meet with US Vice President Dick Cheney, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, congressmen, investors, and businessmen. He will deliver a speech before politicians, academicians, and leaders of Christian society in which he will outline Jordan's vision and efforts in promoting dialogue between followers of the three monotheistic religions on the base of Amman Message, which rejects terrorism and extremism. At the University of Mississippi in Oxford, King Abdullah will deliver a speech to review Jordan's efforts in enhancing religious dialogue as well as other issues concerning mechanisms of achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.

Before U.S. Jordan's King held talks  in  London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the peace process, developments in Iraq and bilateral ties.

On the eve of the royal tour king Abdullah before left Amman held talks with the

President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas. During the meeting, the King said that the current stage in Palestine requires enhancing the national unity and keeping what has been achieved over the past years and building on it with a view to establish an independent Palestinian state and achieve a a just peace in the Middle East.

The King pointed that Hamas Movement's win in the Palestinian elections is the choice of the Palestinian people, who we respect their desire. He also affirmed the importance of dealing in reality with the stage's requirements, which should be understood by all Palestinians so as to prove that there is a Palestinian partner who can move forward in establishing peace.

The King also stressed the importance of continuing the international community's support to Palestinian people to alleviate their hard living conditions and build a strong economy that can create jobs and contribute to developing the society. King Abdullah also pointed that the hesitation in providing international assistance to Palestinians will affect only the Palestinian people who are suffering from several economic difficulties. On the other hand, the King hailed the obligation of the Palestinian President to resume the PNA policy and respect its international commitments.

King Abdullah hoped that the results of the Palestinian elections will "boost unity and rearrange internal affairs in the territories," stressing that the peace process should not stop.

"The elections should be a step towards building effective institutions that will be able to achieve people's aspirations and leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,"

. Earlier, King Abdullah told a visiting French parliamentarians that no matter the results of the Palestinian elections, the two-state solution remains the logical and reasonable way to establish stability and security in the region and achieve the aspirations of the people for a better future. The Monarch urged the Palestinians and the Israelis to return to the negotiation table, saying the next two years will be decisive for the Palestinian issue, according to a Royal Court statement

For his part, Abbas briefed the King on difficulties facing the Palestinians at this stage, especially in security and economic domains..

In statements to Jordan Television and Jordan News Agency, Abbas said that he and the king discussed the outcome of the Palestinian elections and means to push the peace process forward. He also affirmed that the obligations of the Palestinian National Authority will remain as they are and nobody can cancel of change them.

Before leaving to Eygpt Abbas met the Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit

Who highlighted Jordan's efforts to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region, end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. During the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Abdel llah Al Khatib, Spokesperson of Palestinian Presidency Nabil Abu Rdeineh, and Palestinian Ambassador to Jordan Atta Kheiri, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Jordan's support to the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people. He also stressed that peace is a strategic choice to establish security and stability in the region, noting to the importance of continuing the Jordanian- Palestinian coordination and consultation. For his part, Abbas valued efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II to resume the political negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. '' We welcome consultations with Jordan,'' Abbas said

ُEarlier  King Abdullah II stressed, during a phone call on Friday with Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, that resuming the peace process in the Middle East should form a strategic aim. The King pointed that the Palestinian people seek for peace, noting that the results of the Palestinian legislative elections should not prevent us from moving towards peace to end conflict and violence in the region. His Majesty had earlier yesterday made a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during which the King affirmed the necessity of resuming the peace process to restore rights of the Palestinians.

On last Thursday the King received Israeli Former Prime Minister Shemon Perez, who paid a short visit to Jordan to discuss the project of the Dead Sea-Red Sea Canal that Jordan is seeking to perform to save the Dead Sea. During the meeting King Abdullah affirmed the importance of the project that Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel will benefit from and that will contribute to decreasing water shortage in the region as well as finding alternative power resources. For his part, Perez called for further concentration on the economic dimension in the region and on improving the living conditions to its peoples, affirming that after establishing the Palestinian state, Jordan, Palestine and Israel will be a model of cooperation and progress. Perez also pointed that the governments can not afford such a project by its self, adding that the private sector must carry the responsibility to cooperate for the success of the project. Discussions touched to enhancing means of future cooperation in the fields of winds and solar powers. They also discussed the peace process in the Middle East in light of the results of the Palestinian elections.

Meanwhile Deputizing for the Jordanian government, head of the Jordanian representation office in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Yahya Qaralleh congratulated senior Hamas official Ismail Hanyeh over the win of Hamas Movement in the Palestinian elections. Qaralleh told Jordan News Agency that he Presented congratulations, on behalf of the Jordanian government, to Sheikh Hanyeh During the Meeting with Hamas official, Qaralleh stressed Jordan's support to the Palestinian people to restore their rights and establish their state. For his part, Hanyeh expressed thanks for Jordan over supporting the Palestinian people. He also added that the movement and the government will continue coordination and consultation with all Arab brethren, especially Jordan and Egypt, expressing hope that the Jordanian support to the Palestinian people would continue

Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said "Jordan respects the choice of the Palestinians and congratulates them on their smooth election process."

Judeh added that the Kingdom was closely monitoring Palestinian political developments and awaiting the formation of the new government, which "will directly effect the peace process."

Another government official was quoted by Reuters as saying that "the Hamas victory could have enormous implications for the peace process and Hamas must now act responsibly to ensure the Palestinians don't lose more."

Politicians called on the international community to "respect the Palestinian will."

"The Palestinians are aware of their best interest. They have the right to change their leadership," said Abdul Latif Arabiyat, head of the Shura Council of the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's most influential political party.

In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Damascus-based Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy leader of the Hamas political bureau, said Hamas' victory ushers in a new era and called on the US and European countries to deal with the new facts on the ground.

Mazen Riyal, spokesman of the National Coalition of Jordan's opposition parties, called on Hamas to form a "national unity government to meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people."

Hamas officials held out the possibility of a coalition with Fateh and other parties. A Hamas statement said Khaled Mishaal, its politburo chief, telephoned Abbas to affirm "a commitment to partnership with all the Palestinian forces, including the brothers in the Fateh movement."

On Jordan's relations with Hamas, Riyal said the Kingdom will deal with Hamas as part of a Palestinian government.

"Jordan has always supported the Palestinian leadership and will continue its support," he said.

Marwan Dudin, a former minister of occupied territories affairs, said the Islamic movement will have to prove its ability to lead the Palestinian people.

"Now the flexibility of Hamas and their political experience will be put to a difficult test," Dudin said.

Jawad Anani, a former minister of finance and now an analyst based in Dubai, told Reuters that the recent comments by US officials setting conditions for dealing with Hamas showed that a negotiating process had already started.

"The Palestinian voters have answered Israeli extremism with a Palestinian counterpart and I believe only those more extreme sides will produce peace," said Anani.

Saleh Zaitoon MWC Middle east Bureau Chief  is a Jordanian Journalist Working as A Media Consultant

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