AMMAN, Jordan, April 12 (UPI) -- Jordan's King Abdullah will become the first Middle Eastern leader to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, sources say.
Citing an unnamed Jordanian source, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday that Abdullah will travel to Washington at the end of April to urge Washington to move ahead with the Arab peace initiative. By doing so, he will meet with Obama before new Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The source said the king will assure the new U.S. president that Jordan remains committed to a two-state solution and will press Obama to support a Palestinian unity government that included the militant group Hamas, which Washington has designated a terrorist organization.
Abdullah has been critical of the slow pace in talks toward a two-state agreement, blaming Israel's stance on Jewish settlements and the destruction of Arab homes in Jerusalem, Haaretz said.
He has been actively seeking international intervention on the issues.