U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is adding Lebanon and Syria to his Middle East tour, American officials said. He first will meet in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who declared Tuesday night that it is nonsense to talk about Jordan being the home for PA Arabs.
National Union Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad caused a storm in Jordan last month by suggesting his “two-state solution” of Israel for Jews and Jordan for those who call themselves Palestinians. Mitchell’s trip is focuses on U.S. President Barack Obama’s demand that Israel accept a PA state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, including eastern Jerusalem.