Abbas Moves Ahead with UN Bid, Jordan’s King Gets Boost

Photo Credit: Sabbah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that his government is moving forward with plans to seek observer states at the United Nations next month, despite U.S. and Israeli resistance. In London, British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt met with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat to discuss the Middle East peace process and prospects for a two-state solution. William Hague, England’s Foreign Secretary, urged the next U.S. president to place emphasis on renewing the peace process,  saying “the priority is for the United States … to lead a major push to restart negotiations to arrive at a two-state solution.”

Jordan’s early parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 23, will be “make-or-break time” for the King of Jordan, according to Dale Gavlak of the BBC. An editorial for the Jordan Times said “the coming parliaments and governments will be” the people’s choice and urged involvement in the elections, which opposition groups have boycotted. Meanwhile, Jillian Schwedler, writing in Al-Jazeera, said the foiled al-Qaeda attack in Jordan helped boost King Abdullah‘s ratings and “refocused attention on domestic security and the regime’s ability to protect its subjects.”