Saudi tour did not bring Syria, Jordan together

The US has asked the Arab states for more time to give the Middle East peace process a push forward before calling for an Arab summit, at a time when the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz did not succeed in bringing together Jordanian and Syrian viewpoints, which differed over Jordan's persistence that the proposed Arab summit should not impose resolutions to halt normalization with Israel.

A high-ranking Jordanian official said that Jordan and Saudi Arabia have asserted their commitment to the peace process and the need to abide by agreements signed with Israel.

Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam noted political disputes with Jordan toward the policy that should be pursued concerning Israel.

Meanwhile, foreign diplomats in Amman asserted that Washington has asked the Arab states for a one week break before convening an Arab summit to discuss the stumbled peace process, al-Safir reported.

The diplomats added that the US undersecretary of state for political affairs, Thomas Pickering, asked for the postponement during his meeting on Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah in Amman. Al-Safir reported that a foreign diplomat in Amman said the US has given itself a one-week time to announce the failure or the success of its initiative concerning the Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.