Obama, Jordan’s King Abdullah II to meet in US

RANCHO MIRAGE: President Barack Obama and King Abdullah II of Jordan are meeting in California to discuss the Mideast peace process and Syria´s civil war.

Jordan is a close Arab ally of the U.S. It´s also one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid, collecting about $1 billion annually for the past five years.

Abdullah spent the past week in Washington meeting with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, congressional leaders and others.

He concludes his US visit Friday by meeting with Obama at an estate in Rancho Mirage.

Abdullah supports Kerry´s efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

The king is also anxious for a political solution in next-door Syria. His country has been overwhelmed by Syrian refugees crossing the border to flee the bloodshed.