Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left Ramallah on Tuesday morning to embark on an Arab and European tour. During the tour he intends to explain the Palestinian stance and gain international support for the relaunching of the peace process in the Middle East.!– @page { size: 21.59cm 27.94cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } –>Jordan will be Abbas' first destination; he intends to brief King Abdullah of Jordan on his Monday meeting with Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and on the latest developments regarding the formation of a unity government.
Abbas will be heading to Britain on Wednesday for a meeting with its Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Wednesday is also the date of the Quartet's meeting in the German capital – Berlin, Abbas will travel to Germany for a meeting with the German chancellor Angela Merkel and a number of German officials.
On Friday, Abbas intends to meet with the French President Jacques Chirac.
Abbas also intends to tour in several Arabic countries to inform them on the latest developments.
Abbas's spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rodeina, stated in a press conference before Abbas left the country, that the president will explain the Mecca agreement to Arab and European leaders, and will ask them to lift the political and economic siege imposed on the Palestinians.
Palestinian sources reported that the Monday meeting between Abbas, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was not productive due to the Israeli rejection to the unity government, “and the angry responses from Olmert, rejecting to recognize or deal with the new government unless it complies with the conditions of the Quartet”.
Olmert accused Abbas of deceiving him by signing a unity deal with Hamas, but Abbas told Olmert that Israel never fulfilled its promises.
Israel is currently weighing up the possibility of holding a summit that would include Jordan, Egypt, the United States, Israel and the Palestinian President.
