Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to neighbouring Jordan for talks with its ruler, King Abdullah, in the Red Sea resort Aqaba.

The previously unannounced trip is the Israeli leader's second this week. He went to Egypt on Monday, his first time on foreign soil since taking office, BBC reported.

Mr Netanyahu is due in Washington for what are being seen as crucial talks with President Barack Obama on 18 May.

So far the new Israeli leader has avoided endorsing a Palestinian state.

A two-state solution based on independent Palestinian statehood is a goal strongly backed by the US and by Jordan and Egypt, Israel's only allies among Arab states.

Later in the day, Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently visiting Biblical locations in northern Israel.

The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says the frantic activity is because Israel now fears being diplomatically isolated.

On Monday, King Abdullah warned that failure to reach an agreement for peace in the Middle East would result in a new conflagration within 12-18 months.

In comments to a UK newspaper, he said the US was finalising a comprehensive solution to Israel's conflicts with the Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese that would involve all 57 Arab and Muslim states.

Our correspondent says everything appears to be leading towards a visit by President Obama to Cairo next month, during which he is expected to announce his support for the Jordanian plan in some form.