JORDAN'S TIES WITH ISRAEL COULD BE HARMED IF THE JEWISH STATE RESHAPES THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK WITHOUT PALESTINIAN AGREEMENT, KING ABDULLAH SAID IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY. THE KING IS DUE TO HOLD TALKS WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT IN AMMAN ON THURSDAY. OLMERT'S OFFICE HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID THE MEETING WOULD BE ON WEDNESDAY, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS. ISRAEL PLANS TO DRAW FINAL BORDERS BY 2010 IF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH PALESTINIANS REMAIN FROZEN. THE PLAN INVOLVES UPROOTING REMOTE JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK WHILE STRENGTHENING LARGER ENCLAVES BEHIND A FORTIFIED BORDER. "OUR ABILITY TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN US AND ISRAEL COULD BE HARMED BY ANY UNILATERAL ACTION," ABDULLAH TOLD THE MASS-CIRCULATION ISRAELI NEWSPAPER YEDIOTH AHRONOTH. THE PALESTINIANS REJECT OLMERT'S UNILATERAL IDEAS OUT OF HAND, SAYING SUCH MOVES WOULD DENY THEM THE VIABLE STATE THEY SEEK IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK AND THE GAZA STRIP. JORDAN IS ONE OF ONLY TWO ARAB COUNTRIES TO HAVE FULL PEACE TREATIES WITH ISRAEL. THE OTHER IS EGYPT. JORDANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE SAID KING ABDULLAH WOULD URGE OLMERT TO AVOID UNILATERAL ACTION AND REVIVE PEACE TALKS WITH THE PALESTINIANS.
