JERUSALEM, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said here on Thursday that Israel should coordinate future withdrawal from the West Bank with Jordan.

    Peres made the remarks as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert traveled to Amman on Thursday to meet Jordanian King Abdullah. "We need to consult with King Abdullah before carrying out the realignment plan," local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Peres as saying.

    "Israeli policy has to take into consideration the fact that Jordan is the closest country to us, and not only geographically," Peres said. "We need to see what the King thinks and not only what we are thinking."

    Peres also stressed the importance of holding peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "I object advice to weaken Abu Mazen (Abbas). I don't understand why we should do so, we are ready to negotiate with Abu Mazen."

    "Hamas may have been elected to form a government but it is not capable of governing. I always said: Hamas hasn't won yet, Abu Mazen has not fallen yet," he added.

    Israel has boycotted Hamas-led Palestinian government since it took power following Hamas' surprising victory over Abbas' long-dominant Fatah movement in January parliamentary elections. Hamas has resisted massive pressure to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept signed accords with Israel, including a two-state peace plan.

    According to Olmert's realignment plan, thousands of Jewish settlers will be unilaterally evacuated from isolated settlements in the West Bank before setting Israeli final borders without reaching peace agreement with the Palestinians.

    King Abdullah has voiced his objection to any unilateral steps taken by Israel, fearing that it would destabilize the region and undermine Jordan's security.

    Olmert said after a summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak late Sunday that he intended to meet Abbas and that negotiations with the Palestinians were Israel's priority. Enditem