Merkel-Jordan-Middle East

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Jordanian monarch after their meeting, Chancellor Merkel said that "on behalf of Germany, I will do everything to make a constructive contribution to move this peace process forward."

Both leaders expressed hopes that US President Barack Obama would give the Middle East peace process a new impetus, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled visit to Washington on May 18.

Merkel said Obama's renewed focus in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gave a strong political impulse to get the issues of these negotiations moving again.

"Overall, common sense simply speaks in favor of using this window of opportunity," the chancellor said, warning that failure could lead to more violence, as has happened in the past.

Merkel also expressed the hope that progress in the Middle East could make it easier to resolve the long-running standoff with Iran over its controversial nuclear enrichment program.

King Abdullah expressed his gratitude to Germany for helping to press both sides to begin a new round of negotiations. The Jordanian monarch said the major difference today was that the problem was now seen as a regional one and not just an Israeli-Palestinian issue.

This was visible, Abdullah said, in the fact that 56 nations, which had previously refused to recognize Israel, were now showing a willingness to negotiate.

Abdullah's trip to Germany follows his talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, which focused on the need to establish an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel. Abdullah also recently met with President Obama in Washington, as well as his namesake King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Merkel is slated to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Berlin on Thursday.