Jordan offers PA help in restarting peace process

Jordan's King Abdullah II promised visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday help in restarting Middle East peacemaking. Jordan and two other US allies in the Middle East are spearheading an Arab effort to present a plan for reviving the stalled peace process and talks with Israel in the wake of the wake of the Lebanon crisis. Details of the plan remain sketchy, and already Israel has expressed skepticism, saying it doubts their proposal will adequately take into account its security needs. But efforts by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan may indicate that they are alarmed by current tensions in the region.