AMMAN: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said Tuesday opportunities to resume peace talks with Israel should be seized, but played down prospects for success. “We will keep coordinating with King Abdullah II, and we welcome any chances provided by Jordan to back peace efforts,” Abbas said after meeting the monarch in Amman, according to a palace statement.

“Any chance must be taken advantage of, no matter how weak hopes are,” he added, a day after Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a second meeting in a week to find a way to get back to peace talks. The last talks collapsed more than 15 months ago.

Abbas expressed hopes that the two sides will meet on Jan. 26 “to refer to the legal foundation that allows them to return to negotiations.”

The date was set by the diplomatic Quartet of the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia for both parties to present their proposals on borders and security with an eye to resuming direct talks shortly afterward.