His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday stressed that Jordan is keen to maintain good ties with Arab Israelis and offer them all possible help in various fields.

Meeting a delegation of tribal leaders from the Naqab (Negev) Desert, His Majesty said the Kingdom would continue to facilitate the travel of Arab Israeli pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca through Jordan.

Arab Israeli Knesset Member Talab Sana, who headed the delegation, commended the role of King Abdullah in supporting the Middle East peace process and assisting the Palestinian people in their endeavours to establish their independent state.

The delegation thanked the King for His Majesty's directives to increase the number of scholarships offered to Arab Israeli students at local universities.

Foreign Minister Farouq Qasrawi, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Khalid Sarayreh, and the Kingdom's Ambassador to Israel Marouf Bakhit attended the meeting.

The Jordan Times