Abdullah sees 'baby steps' in peace talks

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan says he's convinced Israelis and Palestinians are looking for ways to revive peace talks that have been stalled for two years.

Abdullah, in Washington to meet with President Obama Tuesday, cautioned both sides have huge hurdles to overcome before they can even begin to discuss proposals to create a Palestinian state and he fears time is running short, The Washington Post reported.

"I am cautious about saying that I'm cautiously optimistic," Abdullah said

Jordan is hosting the first negotiations since 2010 in which Palestinian and Israeli negotiators met face to face. The low-level talks -- organized by the diplomatic so-called Quartet on the Middle East, consisting of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia -- began Jan. 3 and finished a third round of discussions Sunday. The next meeting is Jan. 25.

Abdullah said the discussions have been "both good and tough," and given a change for both sides to "start throwing initial passes at each other" in advance of more formal negotiations.

"I do believe they want a way out, a way to get to [direct] negotiations," Abdullah said in an interview the Post. "We all know the positions in which they have entrenched themselves. However, the intent, I believe, is there -- from both sides. It is little baby steps, right at the beginning."

Abdullah said he was meeting with Obama to discuss refining the strategy, but acknowledged the time wasn't ripe for a major U.S. push on Middle East peace.

"We can't expect for the Americans to wade in, full-weight, unless we have enough of a package where the outcome is somewhat predictable," he said.