Riyadh: King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz discussed here yesterday with the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a number of political issues, mainly the latest developments in the Middle East and the strategy of the Palestinian National Authority as regards to the Palestinian-Israeli indirect peace talks.
They also discussed the appropriate means to push forward the peace process and the nature of the Arab move to deal with the Israeli intransigence
An informed Palestinian diplomatic source who attended the summit said that the two sides reviewed the outcome of the Palestinian dialogue sponsored by Cairo to put an end to the internal division among the Palestinians and to reach a reconciliation agreement.
The talks also dwelt on the means to strengthen the relationship between Riyadh and Ramallah in all political, economic and commercial fields.
In a statement to Gulf News, the Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jamal Al Shobaki said that the king expressed concern over the continuing differences between the Palestinian ranks, and stressed the importance of unifying the internal front and reaching a reconciliation agreement between the Palestinians to confront the repeated Israeli aggressions.
The source added that the king expressed a strong commitment to support the reconciliation efforts between the factions on the grounds that it constitutes a safety valve for the entire Palestinian cause and the future of the peace process in the Middle East.
He pointed out that the Palestinian President briefed King Abdullah on the outcome of the contacts he made recently with the US administration, particularly the issue of indirect talks and the ideas and proposals put forward by Obama administration to the Palestinian side.
