Obama Administration Rumored to Organize Secret Talks With Egypt, Israel, Jordan

The US administration organized a secret meeting last year with the leaders of Egypt, Israel and Jordan with an aim to resume Middle East peace process, but the meeting ended without any progress, Haaretz newspaper reported Sunday, citing a source in the team of former US President Barack Obama.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — The leaders reportedly met in the Jordanian town of Aqaba and discussed former US State Secretary John Kerry's proposals on resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations supported by Arab states.

The newspaper went further saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not agree on Kerry's proposals, adding that it would be difficult to approve them in the parliament.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was informed about the meeting but did not participate in it.

The proposals reportedly did not differ from those announced by Kerry in December 2016, which include restoring 1967 borders, two states for two people principle, acknowledgment of Palestinian refugee issue, recognizing Jerusalem as capital of both states, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the end of the conflict between Israel and neighboring Arab states.

Attempts to settle the conflict over Palestinian territories occupied by Israel on the international basis have been made since 2002. As a result of the Paris Conference for peace in the Middle East held on January 15, 2017, the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 was chosen as the basis for conflict resolution, implying the creation of the independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the borders of 1967.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump at a joint press conference with Netanyahu said Israel should delay building new settlements and announced that he was open to alternatives to the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Relations between Israel and Palestine have been shattered for decades. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.