Jul 8, 2021 - World

Scoop: Israeli prime minister took secret trip to Jordan to visit king

Barak Ravid

Naftali Bennett visits the Israeli president's residence. Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon/AFP via Getty

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Jordan secretly last week and met with King Abdullah II at his palace in Amman, a former Israeli official tells Axios.

Why it matters: This was the first meeting between the king and an Israeli prime minister in more than five years. It follows a long period of tensions between Abdullah and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and comes as Bennett attempts to reset the relationship.

At the top of the meeting, Bennett informed the king that he was prepared to approve a deal for the sale of water from Israel to Jordan, an issue that had proved contentious under Netanyahu, according to the former official.
Both Bennett and Abdullah agreed to turn the page and resume normal dialogue, the official says.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment, as did the Jordanian Royal Court and the Jordanian Embassy in Washington.

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Scoop: Israeli prime minister took secret trip to Jordan to visit king

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