The Israeli Defence Minister, Yitzhak Mordechai, has had talks in Jordan with King Hussein about the stalled Middle East peace process.

An Israeli spokesman said that the King had expressed optimism about the prospects for progress, but gave no details.

Mr Mordechai had similar talks with President Mubarak of Egypt last week, and Israeli officials say he is planning to see the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, shortly.

Correspondents say there has been speculation that Israel is close to a decision on an American proposal for a further Israeli troop withdrawal from the West Bank.

However, the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said after a cabinet meeting that no deal was imminent.