Jordan's King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein receiving (L to R) Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at Husseiniya Palace in Amman. AFP
The delegation, tasked with ending Israel's war on Gaza, held a virtual meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas before meeting the king, Ashraq News reported.
Jordan's foreign ministry said the Amman stop was a preparatory meeting ahead of the delegation's visit to Ramallah, where they had intended to meet Abbas in person.
In a statement on Saturday, the ministry condemned Israel's refusal as a "blatant violation" of its obligations as an occupying power. It accused Israel of "arrogance" and "disregard for international law."
Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi reiterated the criticism on Sunday, saying the visit was blocked by "the same extremist government that is killing children" in Gaza, according to Al Arabiya Al Hadath.
The ministerial group was formed during the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza and includes foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, along with the Arab League secretary general.
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned Israel's obstruction, describing it as the action of a government that "rejects peace." He urged European countries to recognise Palestine without delay, according to Al Hadath.
"Anyone who believes in the two-state solution must immediately recognise the state of Palestine," he said.
Prince Faisal also called for international backing of Palestinian Authority reform efforts and warned that Israel was systematically undermining it in the West Bank. He stressed the need for concrete international steps to implement a two-state solution.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described Israel's move as "extreme arrogance" and further evidence that there is "no genuine partner for peace." He reaffirmed Cairo's position, shared by Arab states, opposing any attempt to displace Palestinians by force, Al Hadath reported.
The delegation's visit comes ahead of a UN conference in New York later this month, co-led by Saudi Arabia and France. The conference aims to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and rally international support for Palestinian statehood, with France potentially announcing formal recognition of Palestine.
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